Students and local residents tie rakhis to a tree at Budharaja reserve forest in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Aug. 12: Students from various educational institutions and local residents tied rakhis to trees at Budharaja forest here.

The students came together at the Budharaja reserve forest today and took an oath to protect the trees. They also vowed to treat the trees as their brothers.

“We tied rakhi to the trees as they protect us. Some people cut down trees for their interest and profits. Rampant deforestation has destabilised the environment. The trees must be protected,” said Baby Barsharani Pattnaik, a Class VIII student of Saraswati Sishu Mandir here.

“The trees should be treated as our brothers. We should save the trees to save our environment. Indiscriminate deforestation is contributing to climate change and global warming,” said Kajal Rout, another student.

“We have formed an eco club in our school that has 30 members. We carry out various plantation programmes in the city. Our students come to Budharaja hill to tie rakhis to the trees. The students who have come here to tie the sacred rakhi want to send the message that the trees need to be protected,” said Sudhir Naik, a teacher of Saraswati Sishu Mandir.

“For the past six years, the students and local residents have been celebrating rakhi in this way,” said Rushi Patra, president of Budharaj Bana Samrakshana Samiti.

“Students from several schools and colleges came here to tie rakhi to the trees. We want to send the message that the trees protect us and it is our responsibility to protect them in turn and care for them,” he said. “Six years ago, we had taken the initiative to plant trees on Budharaja hill and some organisations and people have extended their hands for this cause,” said a member of the Budharaj Bana Samrankshana Samiti.