Thiruvananthapuram: Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and environmentalist Medha Patkar planted a sapling at Karthika Tirunal Government Girls Vocational Higher Secondary School, Manacaud, to kick off the State-wide `Ente Maram' tree planting campaign organised in connection with World Environment Day here on Tuesday.

The programme jointly organised by the departments of forest and education is one of the most intensive afforestation programmes ever taken up here.

Minister for Forest Benoy Viswom; Minister for Law M. Vijayakumar; Mayor C. Jayan Babu; Panniyan Ravindran, MP; V. Surendran Pillai, MLA; noted poet B. Sugathakumari; District Collector, N. Ayyappan and top officials of the Forest Department were present.

Lyricist Kaithaparam Damodaran Namboodiri accompanied by 10 students rendered the song "Ee Maram, Ente Maram, Ee Maram, Ente Sneham..'. Mr. Viswom lighted the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Viswom called upon children to be more vigilant against the onslaught on the nature.

The tree planting campaign is unique, as students have been roped in to increase the green cover.

Ms. Patkar, who addressed the children, urged them to treat the saplings as their brother or sister and to ensure that they grow. "Everything which is part of our environment needs to be saved, nurtured and should be used with care and consciousness," she reminded the children.

The NBA leader was all praise for Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and his colleagues for the ongoing demolition drive in Munnar and for Mr. Viswom for taking the initiative for the tree planting campaign.

District Collector Mr. Ayyappan also rendered a song.

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