Plant trees, reduce plastic use to save environment, residents told

ROOTING FOR NATURE: Anjuna Sarpanch Surendra Govekar, Biodiversity Management Committee Chairman Ramesh Naik, Lions Club Secretary Valeny Lourenco and others participate in a tree plantation drive in Anjuna.

MAPUSA

Stressing the need for collective action to protect the environment, Anjuna-Caisua Panchayat Sarpanch Surendra Govekar on Thursday urged citizens to reduce the use of plastic and plant at least one tree each year to help maintain ecological balance.

Govekar was speaking at a tree plantation programme organised by the Anjuna-Caisua Biodiversity Management Committee at the Anjuna Lions Club premises to mark World Environment Day.

Highlighting the growing environmental challenges, Govekar said every individual has a responsibility to contribute towards conservation efforts. He noted that reducing plastic consumption and increasing green cover are simple yet effective measures to safeguard the environment for future generations.

The Sarpanch also appealed to residents to adopt responsible waste management practices. He urged citizens not to dump household waste into drains, gutters or along roadsides, pointing out that the Panchayat has appointed personnel for door-to-door waste collection.

"Residents should hand over their garbage to the designated waste collectors instead of disposing of it indiscriminately," he said.

Govekar further called upon homeowners who rent out their properties to ensure that their tenants follow proper waste disposal practices and refrain from littering public spaces.

Earlier, Biodiversity Management Committee Chairman Ramesh Naik welcomed the gathering and emphasised the importance of tree plantation. He urged every citizen to plant at least one tree annually and described environmental protection as a collective responsibility.

The programme was attended by Panch member Dinesh Patil, Biodiversity Management Committee members Mariano Fernandes, Olivia Fernandes and Sanjay Narvekar, Lions Club Secretary Valeny Lourenco, club members Mahadev Kambli and Mario, and Anjuna Communidade attorney Seby D'Souza, among others.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Lions Club Secretary Valeny Lourenco.