18th of August, New Delhi: Amit Shah, who serves as both the Union Home Minister and the Minister of Cooperation, said on Friday that the best way to safeguard the environment was to grow trees.
During the planting of the 40 millionth (4 croreth) tree as part of the all-India tree plantation campaign of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Group Centre in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Shah said, “Environmental protection is only possible by planting trees.” The statement was issued to the Press Information Bureau by an official spokesman.
During his speech, he said that a tree planted today will be a source of oxygen for many generations to come after it.
Shah said that the ozone layer was being degraded owing to the rising pollution, and as a consequence, in the future, solar rays will directly strike the Earth, which would result in the Earth no longer being safe for human existence.
He said that the only way to avoid such a catastrophe was to increase the number of trees that are planted and to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere.
Shah said that there were two considerations made prior to planting trees.
“First, the trees that are being planted should have a long lifespan, and second, they should be able to provide maximum oxygen, such as Peepal, Banyan, Neem, Jamun, and others,” he added. “Trees with a long lifespan are more likely to survive and thrive in their environments.”
According to Shah, the oxygen that these trees produce ranges from 60 to 100 percent, and their contribution to the preservation of the earth will continue for many years.
In addition to this, he inaugurated 15 newly constructed structures of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which were spread out over 8 different campuses and cost a total of 165 crores rupees to construct.
These include the construction of 220 family accommodations at 102 Rapid Task Force at a cost of Rs 57 crore; the construction of a 50-bed hospital in Group Centre, Raipur at a cost of Rs 17 crore; administrative building, quarter guard and parade ground at Recruit Training Centre Jodhpur at a cost of Rs 16 crore; the construction of a 240-men barrack in Group Centre, Raipur built at a cost of Rs 11 crore; and the construction of hospitals, gyms, mess
According to Shah, it was a very important day for all of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
He said that the decision to plant 5 crore trees was made three years ago, and it was decided that by December 2023, we would accomplish this goal. After the gaps are filled in and the trees have matured, we will give them to the world.
Shah stated his conviction that the objective of planting 5 crore trees by the end of the year 2023 will be met.
He said that in order to make this apparently impossible objective a reality, all of the staff of CAPFs as well as their families took it on as a challenge, thought of the trees as their friends, and devoted time to caring for them.
He said that with the planting of the 40 millionth seedling, which happened to be a Peepal tree, the contribution of all CAPFs to the process of turning the planet greener will be remembered for all of time.
“This campaign would write a new saga of sensitivity of CAPFs towards conservation of earth and climate change along with bravery,” added Shah. “This campaign would write a new saga of sensitivity of CAPFs towards conservation of earth and climate change.”
He said that progress was being made towards the aim of planting 1 crore 50 lakh seedlings this year, and a total of 4 crore saplings had been planted till today. He also stated that the objective of planting 5 crore trees will be accomplished in the near future.
“Today was the birth anniversary of Param Vir Chakra awardee Lieutenant Colonel A B Tarapore,” Shah stated. “He not only made the supreme sacrifice for the security of the country, but he also set an excellent example by valiantly leading from the front and boosting everyone’s morale.” Tarapore was awarded the Param Vir Chakra because he not only made the supreme sacrifice for the security of the country, but he also provided an excellent example.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that Lieutenant Colonel A B Tarapore’s legacy will live on forever in the hearts and thoughts of the people by naming an island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago after him. This island is located in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
According to Shah, the all-India tree plantation drive with the goal of planting 5 crore trees was comparable to the Mahakumbh in terms of the preservation of the environment.
He said that the troops of all CAPFs have shown bravery, sacrifice, devotion, and hard work in order to secure the country’s internal security and protect its borders. He said this was done in order to stand steady in their commitment to the mission.
“CAPFs are now doing unprecedented work towards environmental protection through tree plantation drive,” Shah added. “This is in addition to ensuring the country’s internal security, disaster management, border security, and providing public facilities to the first villages located on the borders.”
He said that the CAPFs had demonstrated an unshakeable determination to stand by the people in any crisis without hesitating to sacrifice their lives, and this devotion was displayed whether it was in response to natural catastrophes or pandemics like COVID-19.
Shah said that the CAPFs were ensuring that public services and amenities were made accessible to the communities located on the country’s borders under the Vibrant Village Programme.
He said that now another dimension had been added in which CAPFs had made persistent efforts in environmental preservation by planting and nurturing 4 crore trees, and that they would reach the aim of planting 5 crore trees by December of this year. He said that this was an important step towards achieving the goal of planting 5 crore trees. According to Shah, this would be the most significant contribution made by a security-related body anywhere in the world towards the preservation of the environment.
According to him, all of the CAPFs had collaborated to plant four crore trees, and authorities from the Ministry of Home Affairs had supervised the initiative on many levels.
According to Shah, all of the DGs of all CAPFs had shown their dedication to this plan, and it had been enthusiastically adopted at the platoon and sector levels.
He said that in a number of locations, protective fences and netting were set up to shield the saplings, and trenches were excavated to guarantee that they would continue to live.
Shah said that as a result of all of these efforts, 4 crore trees were now contributing to the greening of the earth.
He said that Prime Minister Modi has worked towards growing and creating India Atma Nirbhar in a variety of fields, which had the effect of enhancing the country’s standing in the globe.
Shah said that “our heritage and culture has always promoted environmental protection,” and that “through our sentiments and actions, we have always ensured that we are contributing to the conservation of the environment.”
He said that Prime Minister Modi has led India to the forefront of the battle against climate change and global warming by implementing the green agenda.
Shah said that this was one of the reasons why the G-20 decided to adopt the term “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (which translates to “One Earth, One Family, One Future”) as their mission statement.
He said that India and France were the ones who first came up with the idea for the International Solar Alliance, which is a project with the motto “One Sun, One World, One Grid.”
“At this point, a large number of nations are contributing to and taking part in this alliance. “It is a significant achievement of the Centre under the leadership of PM Modi,” Shah added. “It is a significant achievement.”
He said that Prime Minister Modi has presented a more conventional way of living to the international community as a method of preserving the planet via the Lifestyle for Environment (living) mission project.
According to Shah, these initiatives are now being followed by people all over the globe, and it is because of these efforts that Prime Minister Modi was awarded the “Champions of Earth” title by the United Nations in recognition of his dedication to the cause of sustainable development.
He said that India has also investigated many novel approaches to lessen the usage of plastics that are only used once.
Shah said that through the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, PM Modi had taken a significant step towards environmental protection.
“Initially, only 39 percent of households in the country had toilets, but now, 99.9 percent of households have toilets, which is a remarkable achievement in our efforts towards environmental conservation,” he said.
Shah said that initiatives like Net-Zero Carbon Emission, International Solar Alliance, 20 percent Ethanol Blending, construction of 12 modern refineries for converting biogas into biofuel, and the Green Hydrogen Mission were being eagerly observed by the world and being emulated.
He said that PM Modi had showcased India’s commitment to environmental protection through eight crucial missions: National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission for a Green India, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.
“These initiatives are re-establishing the age-old culture of environmental protection in our country,” Shah said.
He said that today CAPFs had accomplished what seemed impossible.
Shah expressed confidence that as security and valour for the nation were the ethos of CAPFs, they would also embrace tree plantation as their ethos.
Several dignitaries including the Union Home Secretary and Director Generals of CRPF, CISF, NSG, NDRF, ITBP, SSB, BSF, and Assam Rifles were present on the occasion.
