Chandigarh:
Rajeev Verma, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, UT Chandigarh, inaugurated the ‘Paudh Mela’ at the Lake Sports Complex parking area today. The event, which aims to promote greenery and environmental sustainability, saw a large turnout of enthusiastic citizens. The Adviser visited various stalls at the Mela, which featured free distribution stalls by the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Engineering Department, and the Municipal Corporation.
Additionally, stalls from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), NGOs, schools, and colleges showcased a wide variety of products and information, including compost and composting techniques, herbal seeds, bamboo products, kitchen waste composting, organic farming and gardening, bioenzymes, and more. In his address, Shri Verma emphasized the importance of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, urging everyone to plant at least one tree during the monsoon season. As part of the event, saplings were distributed to the public, encouraging community participation in environmental conservation.
The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) showcased various information and documents related to the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijali Yozna at their stall, promoting the scheme and raising awareness about the government’s initiative to provide free electricity through solar power.
During the event, prizes were distributed to students for their outstanding performance in events organized by the Forest Department on the occasion of World Biodiversity Day. The Paudh Mela will be held for two days, from 6th July to 7th July 2024, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saplings will be distributed free of cost by the Forest Department, Engineering Department (Horticulture), and the Municipal Corporation (Horticulture). In addition to the mela, saplings will also be distributed through vehicles in different sectors of the city. The function was attended by Shri Rupesh Kumar, IAS , Shri Navneet Kumar Srivastava, IFS, Shri C.B. Ojha, Chief Engineer, UT Chandigarh, along with other officers of the Chandigarh Administration Governor of Punjab and Administrator UT Chandigarh Sh. Banwarilal Purohit also planted a sapling of “Rudraksha” at Punjab Raj Bhavan in memory of his mother under the ‘एक पेड़ माँ के नाम’ campaign.
