Jharkhand CM kicks off tree plantation drive
Ranchi, July 2: Nine lakh saplings were planted on Monday on a river bank in Jharkhand under the leadership of Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
He kicked off the 'Nadi Mahotsav' on the banks of the Subarnarekha river in the state. The plantation drive will conclude on August 2.
Addressing a gathering he stressed that "Today simultaneously nine lakh trees will be planted across the river banks as it will help check soil erosion and provide groundwater to the trees."
He said: "This year the forest department has set a target to plant 2.40 crore saplings on 15,300 hectares of land and rejuvenate 7,000 acres of forest land. Last year 2.75 crore saplings were planted on 19,700 hectares of land and 4,600 hectares of forest land was rejuvenated."
He asked the people to make it a people's movement and urged them to join the drive to make Jharkhand clean and green.
"Trees have played a vital role in both science and spirituality. Even from an economic point of view, trees have their own importance. By planting trees like Sal, Sagwan, Forest, and Teak, future expenditure can be meted out," said the Chief Minister.
He added that, to provide adequate food to elephants the forest department has set a target to also rejuvenate bamboo plantation on 1,450 acres of land so that elephants can get adequate food within the forest itself and they do not venture into human habitats.
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UDF will have huge win in Kerala, NDA won't open its account: Cong leader Satheesan
Kochi (PTI): Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan on Friday expressed confidence in a huge win by the UDF, claiming it will make a clean sweep in five districts, and brushed aside speculations that the NDA will open its account in Kerala.
Satheesan, speaking to reporters here a day after the conclusion of the Assembly polls, praised the performance of the UDF leaders and workers during the election, saying it was the best ever he has seen in the last 30 years.
He said that his claims of the UDF getting over 100 seats is not a mere statement, but based on the work the front has done during the last five years to bring back all those who had left it in 2005 and as a result, there was a huge wave in its favour in the state.
The leader of opposition in the state assembly, who contested from the Paravoor constituency, further said that the Congress-led front also had a major social backing from minorities and marginalised groups in the society.
Besides that, there was an anti-incumbency feeling among the people who were disappointed with the LDF rule, he claimed and said that the UDF provided them with a hope and an alternative which no other opposition had done in the past.
"All these factors will contribute to a huge win for the UDF and it would not be surprising if we make a clean sweep in Malappuram, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. That is a total of 43 seats," he said.
According to him, the polling percentage increased because the UDF got people added to the electoral list.
He also brushed aside the LDF remarks about a woman or youth CM, saying that "they can make such statements now as they know they cannot win".
"Otherwise, why did they campaign with Pinarayi Vijayan as the main factor. Why did they say a third Pinarayi rule will come?" he asked.
He also claimed that the LDF's decision to spend government money on its political campaign, by putting up hoardings and carrying out social media programmes to sway voters, has also backfired as people realised that their taxes were being wasted like that.
Asked whether the NDA will open its account, especially in areas where the UDF claimed the BJP-led front had made a deal with the LDF, Satheesan replied in the negative.
He said that as of now he does not see any chance of the NDA opening its account in the state.
