Protection of Nature is Not the Responsibility of the Government Alone, but of Every Citizen” — Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia
Statewide Plantation Campaign of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department Launched from the Indian Institute of Advanced Study
Shimla, June 25: With the objective of transforming environmental conservation into a people’s movement, a plantation programme was jointly organised on Thursday by the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla, and the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department. The occasion also marked the formal launch of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department’s statewide plantation campaign. Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia, graced the programme as the Chief Guest and inaugurated the campaign by planting a sapling in the Institute campus.
Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Chief Justice Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia observed that the protection of the environment and conservation of forests are not merely governmental responsibilities but shared obligations of every citizen. He stated that climate change and global warming have emerged as serious global challenges, the effects of which are increasingly evident in the Himalayan region as well.
Referring to the devastating natural disasters witnessed in Himachal Pradesh in recent years, he emphasised the urgent need for balanced and sustainable development in harmony with nature. Expressing concern over the changing ecological landscape of Shimla, he recalled that many parts of the city were once covered with dense forests, but unplanned urbanisation and indiscriminate felling of trees have steadily reduced its green cover. He cautioned that unless timely and effective measures are taken to restore ecological balance, future generations could face grave environmental challenges. Appreciating the plantation and forest conservation initiatives undertaken by the Forest Department, he stressed the importance of strengthening public participation in such campaigns and offered several valuable suggestions for forest conservation and environmental sustainability.
Welcoming the Chief Guest, the Hon’ble Judges and other distinguished guests, Professor Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, stated that IIAS is not only a premier centre of advanced research but is equally committed to environmental responsibility and social concerns. He noted that continuous efforts are being made to preserve the Institute’s rich natural heritage and strengthen its green environment, and that the plantation campaign launched in collaboration with the Forest Department represents a significant step towards environmental conservation.
Highlighting the importance of environmental protection and forest conservation, Dr Sanjay Sood, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force), Himachal Pradesh, said that the State Government is implementing several flagship initiatives, including the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, Chief Minister’s Forest Expansion Scheme, and the Rajiv Gandhi Green Adoption Scheme, to convert barren and degraded lands into green cover. He informed that under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana, a target has been set to undertake plantation on more than 5,000 hectares across the State. He further stated that the Forest Department is working towards increasing Himachal Pradesh’s green cover by approximately 32 per cent by the year 2030, and that active public participation will play a crucial role in achieving this objective.
The programme was also attended by the Hon’ble Judges of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh—Justice Vivek Singh Thakur, Justice Virender Singh, Justice Jialal Bhardwaj, and Justice Romesh Verma.
The formal vote of thanks was delivered by Mrs Saroj Verma, Divisional Forest Officer (Publicity), Himachal Pradesh, while the proceedings of the programme were conducted by Dr Akhilesh Pathak, Sales and Public Relations Officer, Indian Institute of Advanced Study.
Among those present on the occasion were Alok Nagar, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; K. Thirumal, Chief Conservator of Forests; Anish Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests; Deputy Conservators of Forests Aniket, Raman Sharma, Dinesh Paul, Dr Saroj Verma, and Manish Rampal, along with other senior officers of the Forest Department. National Fellows, Fellows, Associate Fellows, officers and staff members of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study were also present in large numbers.
