Centre to take steps for beautification of Aravali Range

The Central Government plans to preserve the beauty of the Aravali range by extending every possible support for schemes for enhancing the beauty and ecology of the Aravali range. Speaking at a function to inaugurate the Swarna Jayanti Nature Camp and launch of nature awareness and Aravali conservation campaign on the occasion of the United Nations World Day to Combat Desertification 2017, in Bhondsi, in Gurgaon district, the union environment, forests and climate change minister Vardhan said that desertification could be tackled effectively with the active participation of local people and cooperation at all levels. He exhorted the people of Haryana and the nation to become a large force of 'Paryavaran Rakshaks' (environment protectors) to counter the problems posed by desertification, global warming and climate change. He has asked people who are doing commendable work in the area of the environment to upload their photos along with their work on the website of the environment ministry so that they can be rewarded for their efforts on the occasion of World Environment Day next year. He believes that in this way a big force of environment protectors would be raised. He said that modern science and technology can be used for the betterment of the environment. He cited the example of a solar tree devised by scientists over an area of four square metres, which generates 5 KW of electricity. Speaking on the occasion, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said climate change was having an adverse impact on the lives of the people and stressed that afforestation should be undertaken by people to tackle its negative impacts. Khattar urged the people to plant trees equal to the population of the village and to plant 2 crore trees in the next one year for protection of the environment.