"Plant trees" and "Resist when you see a tree being felled" were the slogans raised at the Bonmohotsav function held at New Town this morning. The function was organised by the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) and the state Forest department at the Mela ground in New Town. Chau dance was organided to create an awareness to preserve trees and stop their felling. The response of people was overwhelming. The presence of children and youth was remarkable too. The response to take free saplings was very high. The state Forest department distributed both trees and fruit tree saplings among the residents of New Town.
Besides individuals, members of housing complexes and NGOs took tree saplings. HIDCO also organised another programme at Eco Urban Village where its senior officials planted saplings to mark the occasion. HIDCO has decided to plant 60,000 saplings as part of its green city drive. Avenue plantation will be done along the new roads.
The best maintained trees by the clubs, NGOs and housing complexes will be rewarded. HIDCO is recycling waste water to water roadside trees regularly. HIDCO had planted 60,000 saplings in 2016 and many of the saplings that got uprooted will be replaced. Nurseries have been set up to grow tall trees. After coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged HIDCO officials to increase the green cover of New Town. Eco Park was set up and has become one of the finest urban parks in the country with a footfall of over 80 lakh visitors since its inception in January, 2012.