JD(U) workers plant a sapling at SK Puri area in Patna on Sunday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Sept. 18: The JD(U) workers today distributed over 200 saplings in the city as part of the green drive initiated by chief minister Nitish Kumar. They also planted a sapling each of mango and amla at different houses at SK Puri locality.

This is the first time that planting of saplings has been started in the localities by the JD(U) workers. Earlier, the drive was being conducted at village and semi-urban level.

Green Bihar campaign is the latest agenda of the state government to make the state green and clean.

Though rain disrupted the function for a while but the workers did not leave the venue and took shelter in a nearby house. “Trees and rain are synonyms and it seems that Indra Dev is testing our patience. We will not move from here without planting the sapling. The dream of our leader Nitish Kumar will not be washed away by this rain,” said chief organiser of the programme and the JD(U) general secretary Chotu Singh.

The JD(U) state president, Basistha Narayan Singh, encouraged the efforts and planted the sapling of mango and amla at Chotu’s residence.

Praising the initiative of Nitish, Basistha said: “The campaign is to make the city green and clean. Other states will also follow the campaign that we have initiated. It will also help our workers get identity of their own. I want my party workers to be recognised by planting saplings at each corner of this city.”

Singh said: “I have a dream that this city shall be recognised as garden city. Even villages around the city will be regarded as green villages. The work started by Nitish Kumar is not only related to Bihar, it is a global issue and everyone needs to gather at one platform to make it green.”

He stressed that the party workers and the people need to give more efforts for Bihar to touch the pinnacle of success. “Last year, the number of visitors to Bihar was higher than the number of tourists in Goa,” he added.

Water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said: “Greenery is as important as water, we need more people like Chotu Singh who can take the campaign ahead. This particular campaign has given a special identity to our state and we want to set examples for the others. I thank our chief minister for bringing such an excellent idea.”

JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP R.C.P. Sinha said: “Now there shall be competition to plant more trees among our party workers. Our city has become concrete and trees are disappearing. Strong and dedicated efforts are required to fulfil the dreams of Nitish Kumar.”

Nitish had asked his ministers and legislators to donate one month’s salary for the cause of green Bihar. Kumar and four ministers, including Choudhary, have already donated a month’s salary.