Mysuru: Chamarajanagar district stood first in social forestry in the sapling plantation drive undertaken by the state govt during the human chain formed to mark the International Day of Democracy on Sept 15.
The govt honoured several districts, including Chamarajanagar, in which participating districts were evaluated in five categories such as the highest number of sapling plantations, highest number of NGO participation, and highest number of private companies' participation. The sapling plantation carried out by the district secured first place in the state, followed by Shivamogga and Bidar.
To mark the International Day of Democracy, Chamarajanagar district administration also formed a human chain along a 24-km stretch from Mugur Cross to Ramasamudra in the district, which saw participation of over 26,000 people.
Thousands of school and college children, various departments of govt employees, private company employees, members of non-government organisations, and elected representatives from panchayat level to MLAs planted thousands of saplings across the stretch.
They also planted saplings in the premises of govt offices, schools, educational institutions, and other vacant land to make the event a success. The forest department also distributed thousands of saplings on the day.
A team from Bengaluru assessed the plantation of saplings and selected Chamarajanagar for the first prize in the saplings plantation category from among 31 districts in the state, Shivamogga and Bidar took second and third place respectively.
Chamarajanagar zilla panchayat deputy secretary P Lakshmi said that deputy commissioner Shilpa Nag received the first prize in the saplings plantation category from CM Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru recently. The DC, Shilpa, and ZP CEO Mona Roth received this prize from the CM in the presence of social welfare minister HC Mahadevappa, urban development minister Byrathi Suresh, and others.
"This prize will further help encourage the officials of both the district administration and zilla panchayat to improve the green cover in the district, which is already covered by 48% of forest land, thereby protecting flora and fauna, wildlife, and rejuvenating the groundwater table, and other activities," said Mona Roth.