Deendayal Port Authority pledges to plant 600,000 saplings on World Environment Day
Kutch, June 5
Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced on World Environment Day that the authority will plant 6,00,000 saplings under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign.
Speaking to ANI, Deputy Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority Nilabhra Dasgupta on Friday said that the port authority has taken a pledge to plant these 6,00,000 saplings in an organised manner. Along with this, every worker, employee, and officer will also personally plant at least 10 trees.
"On June 5, on the occasion of World Environment Day, Deendayal Port Authority, under the guidance of the Prime Minister, has taken the responsibility of planting 6,00,000 saplings as part of the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in the Name of Mother) campaign. We have set a target to plant these 600,000 saplings in an organised manner. Every worker, employee, and officer of the Deendayal Port Authority has taken a pledge to plant at least 10 trees individually," he said.
Dasgupta added that the Deendayal Port Authority is committed and responsible towards the environment, climate change, and biodiversity. The port authority is also committed to including green hydrogen plants and the electrification of equipment to reduce fossil fuel usage, a critical step towards environmental conservation.
"This is necessary because Deendayal Port Authority is one of India's major ports, and we lead economic growth. Therefore, we must remain more responsible toward the environment, climate change, biodiversity, and the use of green and clean energy. The port authority is committed to various measures, including green hydrogen plants at the port, the electrification of equipment, and new ways to reduce fossil fuel usage," he said.
The announcement was made through an event organised today.
"We organised this event today, June 5, to announce that we will plant 600,000 saplings under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign and spread awareness among the people of Kandla to plant as many trees as possible and protect our environment," he said.
World Environment Day (WED) is observed every year on June 5. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The first celebration was held in 1973, with the theme "Only One Earth."
Each year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) selects a specific environmental theme and designates a global host country to spotlight a major environmental issue. This approach helps focus international attention and action on critical environmental challenges.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Appreciate the sentiment, but 600,000 saplings? Let's be realistic. In Kutch's arid climate, even native species struggle to survive without serious irrigation infrastructure. I'd rather they plant 60,000 with guaranteed survival rates than 600,000 that wither away. Also, what about replacing mangroves along the coast? That would be more impactful for biodiversity near Kandla port.
Great initiative but need to see the bigger picture. Green hydrogen plants and equipment electrification at India's major port - that's the real game changer. Ports are massive carbon emitters with all those ships, cranes, and trucks. If Deendayal Port becomes a model for green energy transition, that will inspire other ports. Planting trees is nice, but reducing fossil fuel use at source is crucial. 👏
As someone who works in environmental consulting, I've seen too many tree-planting campaigns fail due to lack of post-planting care. The pledge for each employee to plant 10 trees individually is good for awareness, but does the port have a dedicated nursery and a monitoring system? Also, what species are they planting? Native, drought-resistant species would be ideal for Kutch.
"Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam" - what a touching concept! This connects environmental responsibility with our cultural values of respecting mothers. And 600,000 trees is no joke - if even half survive, that's a significant carbon sink. But I hope this isn't just a one-day publicity stunt. The authorities should share quarterly progress reports on survival rates. Show us the results, not just the numbers!
K We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.