CUK’s VC launches plantation drive

GANDERBAL — Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir on Wednesday kick started a week-long plantation drive, organized by the Department of Students Welfare (DSW) in collaboration with Landscape Development Department and State Forest Department, at the varsity’s Green Campus in Ganderbal.

Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir planted a sapling and highlighted the significance of afforestation in today’s world, which has become highly polluted and toxic due to excessive usage of fuels and emission of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir asked the faculty members, students and staff to plant saplings in all the campuses of the university in Ganderbal to make the drive a success and underscored the need for holding regular plantation drives in future.

Speaking on the occasion, Registrar, Prof. Fayaz A Nikka said that the plantation of saplings is imperative to maintain the ecological balance to address the endemic global problems.

“Over the years, there has been massive deforestation in Kashmir, which has resulted in unprecedented climate change in the Valley,” Prof. Fayaz Nikka said and stressed upon the need to protect the forest cover in Jammu and Kashmir.

He further said that the university, earlier, had organised several plantation drives at the designated campus in Tulmulla.

DFO Sindh Forest Division, Ganderbal, Mr. Owais Farooq said that the starting of plantation drive from the Central University of Kashmir fitted this year’s theme for the World Plantation Day which is “Forest and Education.”

Mr. Owais said that the main aim and objective of holding the plantation drive was to sensitize the masses about the importance of planting saplings. He said that the department was working tirelessly to reclaim the forests in Jammu and Kashmir.

Director, DSW Syed Zahoor Geelani, advised the students to adopt one sapling after its plantation inside their respective campuses. “This will ensure protection of the sapling and its growth,” he said, adding that the DSW will ensure to plant all the saplings provided by the DFO Sindh Forest Division.

Dean School of Sciences, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, while proposing the vote of thanks said that the concerned government authorities should check the deforestation and strictly punish those felling trees illegally. He said that the CUK was committed to help the Forest department in retaining the past glory of the Valley vis-à-vis its green cover.

Assistant Professor, Zoology, Dr. Muhammad Lateef also threw light on the need of planting saplings inside the university campus.

Registrar, Dr. Fayaz A Nikka, Dean School of Sciences, Prof. M Afzal Zargar, Director DSW, Dr. Syed Zahoor Geelani and other officials of the varsity also planted saplings on the occasion.