Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai and Minister for Forests, Vishwajit Rane planting a sapling at the Raj Bhavan premises.
PANAJI
Raj Bhavan in association with the Forest Department celebrated Van Mahotsav at Raj Bhavan by planting medicinal saplings and fruit-bearing trees at the premises on Thursday.
Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai and First Lady, Adv Reetha Sreedharan led the Van Mahotsav celebrations by planting the first saplings. Minister for Forests, Vishwajit Rane; Chief Secretary, Puneet Kumar Goel, IAS; Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Rajiv Kumar Gupta, IFS; Joint Secretary to Governor, Gaurish Shankhwalkar; and officials from the forest department, among others were also present on the occasion.
Secretary to Governor, Mihir Vardhan, IAS, spoke of the various collaborations the Raj Bhavan had with the forest department in the past and said that this partnership will continue with several projects lined up such as the bird watching tower and educational centre that is being planned. "Efforts to maintain our commitment towards the environment will continue through these activities," he added.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, IFS, Santosh Kumar, spoke of the sensitisation and awareness programmes they have been holding across Goa which include debates, bird trails, tree plantation drives etc. He further assured Raj Bhavan of their continued support towards activities which protect the environment.
Earlier, dignitaries distributed saplings to students of Government primary school students.
