Pratibha Singh, Member of Parliament inaugurated the Van Mahotsav organised at Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya (RKMV), at Shimla today. Speaking on the occasion Smt. Pratibha Singh appealed the people of the State especially the students to plant more trees for increasing the forest cover and saving the environment. She said that it was our utmost responsibility to conserve the forests and voluntarily participate in afforestation drives to ensure survival of forest wealth so that the ecological balance could be maintained between man and nature. Member of Parliament said that the area under forests in the State had increased to 32 crore cubic metres from 25 crore cubic metres.
She said that area of 17,500 hectares would be brought under plantation and Rs. 132 crore were being spent on forestry and wild life sector during the current financial year. Smt. Pratibha Singh said that the free education facilities was being provided to girls in the State and the Government had opened educational institutions in remote and far-flung areas to provide better education to them at their doorsteps. She said the Government was striving to improve the infrastructural facilities in the educational institutions. A colourful cultural programme was also presented on the occasion. Earlier Prof. Meera Walia, Principal of RKMV welcomed the Member of Parliament. Leaders of Youth Congress and Officers of Forest Department were also present on the occasion.