Bhubaneswar, July 2: Schools and colleges across the state are celebrating the Van Mahotsav week that is under way from July 1 to 7.
The educational institutions are conducting a number of activities to sensitise students on planting trees and conserving the environment.
Plantation drives are being held in a number of schools in the city, including DAV Pokhariput, DAV Chandrasekharpur, ODM Public School and others. The students of the BJEM School at BJB Nagar rallied in their area yesterday, holding placards that had messages on the importance of greenery.
The students' union of Utkal University is also celebrating the week by planting trees. They are also cleaning the garden areas on theircampus.
"We are trying to involve the maximum number of students in the drive. It is important to plant trees to maintain the ecological balance," said students' union president Rajesh Raj Swain.
Various youth groups and cultural organisations, too, are organising a number of cultural activities such as street plays, debate competitions and painting competitions to mark the event.
Members of the Uddan Odisha are distributing leaflets at the prominent traffic areas in the city to create awareness about trees and instil love for them in the people. They will conduct the drive throughout the week.
"We realise that the trees are an effective way to prevent global warming and reduce pollution. We are celebrating the week as a festival of life," said Uday Sahoo, a member of the organisation.
The week is also being celebrated in various neighbourhoods in the city. Youngsters of Nayapalli are focusing on planting a number of indigenous varieties of plant such as tulsi, mahua and gulmohar.
"The trees, when they group up, will act as the protectors of the environment. It will give us immense satisfaction and also inspire the upcoming generations to continue the practice," said Rosy Behera, a local resident.
In another development, the Bakul Foundation will start a "My Tree Campaign" from July 5. As a part of the campaign, they will promote gifting of saplings as a cultural practice and also start an extensive campaign of planting trees in schools through standees.
