Tourism and Tribal Welfare Minister A Chandulal today directed that the officials should involve all tribal schools, educational institutions and offices in the flagship program of Haritha Haram to protect environment from pollution in the state.
At a review meeting at Secretariat here the minister offered to give priority to the teachers making better efforts to turn their schools into green areas. He asked the tribal schools to plant saplings of fruits and medicinal and protect them with tree guards and meshes besides watering them on regular basis. Officials should inspect the steps being taken by teachers and students to protect the saplings he said. The department should set an example to inspire others to participate in the green expansion program the minister said. He said that the green drive aims to increase forest cover to 33 per cent from existing 24 per cent to attract more rains and fight pollution. District officials should inform to state officials on green drive program which should reach the target of planting 46 cr saplings this year he said. I will make inspections to the schools he said and warned of stringent measures against negligence the minister said. (NSS)