By Alok S, Team Mangalorean

Mangalore: The BJP Yuva Morcha inaugurated their' Tree-planting Campaign' by observing Vanamahotsava at the Nandigudda Circle here on Sunday morning, July 1.

BJP YuvaMorcha president Raghavendra Rao speaking on the occasion said "After we are born trees provide oxygen and when we die their wood is needed for our cremation, but the importance of these trees have been coming down. Trees play an important role in controlling global warming and soil erosion widely happening in the world today. Nowadays, our children do not realise the importance of trees. Today the Yuva Morcha marks a beginning of the drive, and the tree plantation drive will continue in 38 wards of the Mangalore City Corporation. We will also educate people about the banned trees like the Ashoka tree, that are harmful to the soil. We will not only plant saplings, but also take care of them as they grow. We've got this encouragement for plantation when we saw aged people watering saplings". He also acknowledged the presence Jeeth Milan Roche who has planted more than 15,000 saplings in and around city.

District BJP president Padmanabha Kottari who also arrived on the occasion to inaugurate the drive by planting a sapling said that "We have planned to commemorate the birthdays of Shyam Prasad Mukherjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya by planting saplings on roadsides, school campuses.

The reason for lesser rains this year is probably because of the destruction of forests. In order to get fresh air in this coastal region we need to have more trees planted." He lauded the efforts taken by the BJP Yuva Morcha to make the city greener.

BJP Leader Rajgopal Rai, many other BJP leaders and members of the Yuva morcha were present.