Mayor Suman Bahmani plants saplings with Ward Councillor Harjit Anand, Umesh Arora, students and other participants at Anand Lok City Park in Ward 19.
Mayor Suman Bahmani leads plantation drive in Ward 19, urges residents and youth to make tree care a long-term community responsibility
YAMUNANAGAR | PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK
Hands To Care NGO organised a tree plantation programme at Anand Lok City Park in Ward No. 19 with the objective of promoting environmental conservation and increasing green cover in Yamunanagar-Jagadhri. Municipal Corporation Mayor Suman Bahmani attended the programme as the Chief Guest and planted saplings while appealing to residents to actively participate in efforts to make the city greener and healthier.
The plantation drive brought together the Mayor, Ward Councillor Harjit Anand, Umesh Arora, popularly known as English Guru, students associated with his institution and other members of the community. A total of 51 saplings were planted in the park premises during the programme.
The participation of students was one of the key highlights of the initiative. The young participants enthusiastically joined the plantation activity and also took a pledge to ensure regular care and protection of the saplings planted during the drive. The organisers emphasised that plantation should not end with placing a sapling in the soil, but must continue through regular watering, protection and maintenance.
Addressing the participants, Mayor Suman Bahmani said environmental conservation has become one of the most important responsibilities of society in view of increasing pollution and declining green cover. She said plantation programmes should not remain limited to occasional events but should gradually develop into a sustained public movement involving residents, educational institutions, social organisations and local authorities.
She said every tree planted today represents an investment in the health and well-being of future generations. Trees contribute to cleaner air, a healthier environment and improved urban surroundings, making their protection an important responsibility for every citizen.
The Mayor stressed that merely planting trees is not sufficient. Their survival and long-term growth require continuous care. She urged citizens to take individual responsibility for at least one sapling and ensure that it receives proper water and protection.
“If every citizen takes responsibility for one plant, Yamunanagar-Jagadhri can become significantly greener,” she said, encouraging residents to turn plantation into a regular part of community life.
She particularly appreciated the participation of students and young people in the programme. According to her, youth involvement is essential for creating long-term environmental awareness because young people can influence their families, educational institutions and neighbourhoods through their actions and ideas.
The Mayor also urged students and residents to connect tree plantation with other aspects of environmental protection, including water conservation, cleanliness and reduction in the use of plastic. She said environmental protection requires a comprehensive approach rather than focusing on only one activity.
She explained that increasing green cover can be supported by responsible water use, maintaining clean public spaces and reducing waste and plastic consumption. Such measures, when adopted collectively, can contribute to healthier and more sustainable urban communities.
The Mayor appreciated Hands To Care NGO for taking the initiative and organising the plantation programme in a public park. She said social organisations can play an important role in complementing the efforts of civic authorities by mobilising residents and creating awareness about environmental issues.
According to Bahmani, cooperation between social organisations, elected representatives, students and ordinary citizens is essential for making environmental campaigns successful. She said government agencies can provide institutional support, but the participation of citizens is necessary to ensure that environmental initiatives produce lasting results.
She also encouraged the students who participated in the plantation drive to remain connected with the saplings and periodically monitor their condition. Such involvement, she said, would help students develop a stronger sense of responsibility towards nature and their surroundings.
The programme at Anand Lok City Park also highlighted the importance of public parks as valuable urban green spaces. Parks provide residents with open areas for recreation and relaxation while contributing to the overall environmental quality of residential neighbourhoods.
The plantation of 51 saplings is expected to add to the greenery of the park and improve its surroundings as the plants grow. The organisers said that continued maintenance would be important to ensure that the saplings survive and develop into healthy trees.
Ward Councillor Harjit Anand and Umesh Arora also participated in the plantation activity along with students and other supporters. Their participation helped bring together local representatives, educators and young people for a common environmental objective.
The organisers said that community participation is particularly important in urban areas where expanding development and increasing population can place pressure on green spaces. Protecting existing parks and adding new trees can help maintain a healthier balance between development and environmental needs.
The initiative also carried an important message for young participants: environmental protection is not only the responsibility of government departments. Individuals, educational institutions, NGOs and local communities can all contribute through practical steps such as planting trees, reducing waste, conserving water and protecting public spaces.
The Mayor said the environmental challenges faced by cities cannot be addressed through isolated efforts. A sustained public campaign involving different sections of society is necessary to achieve meaningful improvement.
She urged residents of Yamunanagar-Jagadhri to come forward and participate in similar initiatives and to ensure that plants already present in their neighbourhoods are not damaged or neglected.
“A plant is not merely today’s greenery; it is a foundation for a better future for coming generations,” Bahmani said, stressing that every surviving tree can make a positive contribution to the environment.
The programme concluded with a renewed commitment among the participants to protect the saplings and promote environmental awareness in their respective surroundings. The students pledged to remain involved in caring for the newly planted saplings, while the organisers reiterated their intention to continue community-oriented environmental activities.
The plantation drive at Anand Lok City Park thus combined environmental action with public participation, giving students and residents an opportunity to contribute directly to improving their surroundings. The initiative reinforced the message that a greener Yamunanagar-Jagadhri can be created through consistent efforts, responsible citizenship and collective community participation.
