By Shashank Pasupuleti
Hyderabad, September 2:
Emphasising the need to make environmental conservation a part of everyday life, the ECG Foundation organised a tree-plantation drive at South End Park Colony in LB Nagar–Mansoorabad on Wednesday.
The programme was held with the support of Upender Reddy, a recently retired Southern Railway official. A variety of saplings were planted across the South End Park premises with the aim of improving the green cover in the locality and creating a healthier environment for future generations.
Speaking at the programme, ECG Foundation founder and secretary Dr. Markandeyulu said environmental protection could not be left to governments alone and must become a shared responsibility of every citizen.
He said every sapling planted today represents a valuable gift to future generations. Calling for a change in the way people celebrate important milestones, he urged families to make tree plantation a tradition on birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and other auspicious occasions.
“If we begin every happy occasion in our lives by planting a sapling, we are sharing our happiness with nature. Every family should make tree plantation part of its celebrations,” Dr. Markandeyulu said.
“If we begin every happy occasion in our lives by planting a sapling, we are sharing our happiness with nature. Every family should make tree plantation part of its celebrations,” Dr. Markandeyulu said.ECG Foundation vice-president Dr. Nomula Venkateshwarlu said tree plantation should not remain a one-day activity or a ceremonial programme, but should evolve into a way of life. He stressed that protecting and nurturing a sapling after planting it is as important as planting it in the first place.
He called upon residential colonies, educational institutions and families to actively participate in efforts to expand green cover.
The programme also had an emotional significance for Upender Reddy, who said he was delighted to have the opportunity to personally plant saplings again after a long gap. He announced that he would encourage tree-plantation activities during birthdays, weddings, wedding anniversaries and other family celebrations.
“Protecting nature is the responsibility of every citizen. Every good occasion in our lives should become a blessing for nature as well. We must take forward the idea—‘One auspicious occasion, one sapling,’” Reddy said.
ECG Foundation representatives Dr. Markandeyulu, Dr. Nomula Venkateshwarlu, Venugopal and Narsimhan, along with South End Park Colony General Secretary Ravikumar, Gurunath Reddy and other members of the colony’s governing body, participated in the programme.
The participants also resolved to give equal importance to the continued care and protection of the saplings planted during the drive. The foundation said it would expand similar initiatives in the coming days to encourage greater public participation in environmental conservation.
