Mangalore : The Forest Development department in collaboration with Mangalore City Corporation mooted the green revolution by planting a dozen saplings on the edge of the Nehru (Central) grounds near A.B. Shetty circle on Saturday morning.

City MP Nalinkumar Kateelu started the greening of Mangalore city drive by planting a tree. The natural surroundings in state have been ruined by iron ore mining and exports through the west coast (Kanara) sea ports of Mangalore, Belekeri and Karwar, and it has to be restored to normalcy by attempting a green revolution, the city MP told on the occasion. He gave a slogan “Grow green and save lives” to all people in MCC limits. He added that it was view to protect the natural environment of the earth for present generation and those of future, that a Greenery Revolution has been conducted today (July 17) in rains.

It was necessary to instill a feeling of affection towards nature and green surroundings when forests are destroyed by industrialists in our land, Nalinkumar stated. It was our duty to plant as many saplings as possible that give shade, flowers and fruits, besides timber when they die. MCC has a social target of planting 20,000 trees, half of them by local citizens around their homes, and the other half by MCC, by roadsides all over the city. Such young trees or saplings could be taken away free of cost from the forest department, if children, youth and women are eager to celebrate this Vana Mahotsava, the Mangalore MP notified. The Dy. Conservation officer of Forests, VijayaKumar, echoed his feelings in his speech.

Coastal Development Authority chairman B. Nagaraj Shetty, who also spoke on the occasion reminded the listeners that Mangalore was a green city once upon a time and has to regain that status as the second fastest growing city next only to Bangalore in the state. The slogan before us is “development with greenery “which begins to catch up today.

The trees exhale oxygen and intake nitrogen and we need that oxygen for breathing, as any young child in science studies knows it all. Greenery does not offend the eye but pleases it, unlike blood red colour. Several plants have several shades of green, yellow and red, and we citizens should realize their beauty and utility, the former Minister informed.

A procession was taken out by school children through the streets of the city, before converging on the Nehru Maidan premises, shouting slogans and displaying cards in favour of “making Mangalore a green city”.

City Mayor Rajni Dugganna, Commissioner Dr. Vijay Prakash, city MLA N.Yogish Bhat, DK BJP chief Padmanabha Kottari, ZP chief Santosh Kumar Bhandary, among others attended the programme.