Mangalore: The Mangalore City Corporation, Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Forests celebrated Vanamahotsava and World Environment Day at the Nehru Maidan on July 11, Monday at 9 a.m. District in-charge Minister J. Krishna Palemar, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly N. Yogish Bhat, MCC Commissioner Dr KN Vijayaprakash, zilla panchayat president K.T. Shailaja Bhat and others sowed the saplings on the occasion. Later inaugurating the formal stage function at Town Hall, District in-charge Minister J. Krishna Palemar said that about two lakh trees will be planted in and around Mangalore this year years in a bid to give the city a greener look. It is very important that the people of the city must worship the environment. It is very important to preserve the nature. Further the MCC must take a necessary step to order the public to sow one plant compulsory in the house while giving the license for the house construction, he said. The children must take an initiative to create awareness among others to preserve the environment and creatures which is in the disappearing. In five years, the city will see a lot of changes, where the departments will give priority to environment in beautifying the city. Chief Guest Zilla Panchayath president K T Shailaja Bhat said that earlier people used to have lot of beliefs to cut the trees, saying that there is a supernatural power in it. But now the superstitious beliefs have disappeared and people cut off all the trees, without having any concern over the environment. The city must plant fruit bearing saplings, so that it will provide food for the birds, which is important for balance in nature, she said. DC N S Channappa Gowda, said that MCC must make a rule to collect the waste segregation from the multistore building, so to keep the city clean and the citizen must have similar responsibility. Delivering the presidential address, Deputy Speaker N Yogesh Bhat said that further 20,000 saplings will be sowed in the Mangalore City Corporation limits and it will collect the report in one year of the plants survival. The department will also collect the details of the plants given to various organizations, he added. Speaking on the vertical plant which is used as the retaining wall during the sea erosion, he said that these plants are very strong and it is like a natural retaining wall, he added. MSEZ deputy officer O Palaya delivered the introductory speech on the occasion. MCC Commissioner Dr K N Vijayaprakash welcomed the guest and gathering. Students of Roshni Nilaya, under the direction Bhaskar Neelitheerta staged a play to create awareness among the audience to protect the environment. Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, Deputy Mayor Geetha Nayak, District Forest Senior Officer T V Mohandas, Forest Conservative Officer Shanthappa and others were present on the dais. Later Minister Krishna Palemar handed over the prizes to the winners of drawing and quiz competition held at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama.