The Department of Botany, Government Degree College, Baramulla in collaboration with Jhelum Valley (JV) Forest Division, Baramulla and NSS units of the college organized a plantation drive in the college campus on March 27, 2021. The event witnessed a massive participation of students, NSS volunteers, NSS Program Officers, faculty-both teaching and non-teaching, and officials of the JV Forest Division, Baramulla.The plantation drive was kick started by Principal of the college, Prof. (Dr.) Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Divisional Forest Officer JV Forest Division, Baramulla, Mr. Pervaiz Ahmad Wani, and Head, Department of Botany, Dr. A. R. Malik. Others who followed the track included Convener, IQAC, Prof. A. M. Chalkoo, Convener, Parks and Gardens, Prof. Mohammad Aslam Bhat, NSS Program Officers, Prof Arshad Ahmad, Dr. Kaiser Ahmad, & Dr. Syed Masarat Geelani, among others.Prof. (Dr.) Mushtaq Ahmad Lone acknowledged and appreciated the efforts put in by the JV Forest Division, Baramulla in forest protection, forest development, and awareness programmes.
He also highlighted the need and significance of planting more trees to ensure green cover and simultaneously addressing ever-increasing environmental demands and challenges. “I yearn to see greenery everywhere – be it an academic institution, a market place, a street, a township, or a hospital setting”, said prof. Lone. He stressed that college students must be encouraged to plant more saplings and spread the message to others to continue the chain.DFO J V Division Baramulla Parvaiz Ahmad Wani while speaking on the occasion said that Baramulla Forest Division is going to plant 1.4 lacs saplings of conifers, broad leaved plants including Chinar, fruit, medicinal & other aesthetic plants to increase the green cover both in demarcated Forests as well as outside Forest areas of Baramulla district.Earlier, Dr. A. R. Malik in his benign and mesmerising attire thanked the JV Forest Department officials of Baramulla for their cooperation in the plantation drive and highlighted the importance of afforestation. He encouraged students to plant more trees and take care of their plantations thereafter. He said that every day should be treated as plantation day and plants should be grown to keep the environment green, clean, safe and healthy. He impressed upon the participants to plant tree saplings, which would go a long way in improving the green cover in the UT of J & K. Plantation Drive culminated with vote of thanks presented by Prof. Mohammad Aslam Bhat.