Manipal: The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) along with the schools under the Academy of General Education (AGE) and Dr. T.M.A. Pai Foundation celebrated the World Environment Day at the university campus here on Tuesday.

Over 1,000 students took part in a rally and the programme at KMC Greens. Forty saplings of flowering, fruit bearing and shade giving trees were planted around the Greens. Pro Chancellor H.S. Ballal flagged off the rally from the university building and also planted a sapling.

Registrar Narayanan Sabhahit said, “This year the World Environment Day is particularly important as India is hosting it.” He added, “We organise this programme every year to create awareness about protecting the environment and send the message across to everyone on the importance of maintaining a good environment.”

He also spoke briefly of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan held recently and its significance in raising awareness.

Delivering the World Environment Day message, Pro Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences, Poornima Baliga said, “This day is a wake-up call for all of us to create awareness on environment.”