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Van Mahotsav celebrated with a plantation of more than 500 saplings at AJC Bose Botanic Garden Howrah including 75 saplings of red sander tree to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) celebrated “Van Mahotsav” at Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Howrah, on July 14, 2023. Dr. A. A. Mao, Director, of the Botanical Survey of India, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and addressed the gathering regarding the importance of ex-situ conservation of plants. Kumari Jetti Tejaswi, a 6-year-old girl from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Fort William, Kolkata, graced the occasion as Guest of Honour and represented “Prakriti” from the Mission LiFE Programme.
On the special occasion of Van Mahotsav, the officers, officials, and research scholars of the Botanical Survey of India, along with the participants from various institutions, planted 512 saplings belonging to 75 species of endemic and threatened plants, including 75 saplings of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus L. f.) avenue, to commemorate the 75th Year of Independence Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. The plantation drive was organised in Division No. 17 (Central India). On this occasion, a booklet on the AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden has been released by the dignitaries.
The winners of Sit & Draw and Photography competitions, organized on world environment day 2023 were also awarded on this occasion. Jute bags were given to all the participants to encourage their participation and also to spread awareness regarding the use of jute bags over plastic ones to signify the themes of Mission LiFE.
Result of Sit & Draw and Photography competition Held on World Environment Day 5th June, 2023 organized by AJC Bose Indian Botanic Garden, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah
Drawing Competition:
Group- A
1st Prize- Jaisnavi Dey, Bengal Tiger Army Pre-Primary School
2nd Prize- Rian Mondal, K.E. Carmel School
3rd Prize- Priyankat Singh, Lyceum English Medium School
3rd Prize- Janvi Shaw, Heritage Academy High School
Group- B
1st Prize- Prajeet Manna, Sri Aurobindo Vidyamandir
2nd Prize- Heana Paul, Oxford High School
3rd Prize- Samrita Halder, Shaw Public School
Group- C
1st Prize- Sarthak Paul, National Gems Higher Secondary School
2nd Prize- Anannya Kayal, BE College Model School
3rd Prize- Soumyajit Bar, New Andul HC School
Group- D
1st Prize- Shruti Seal, Bethune Collegiate School
2nd Prize- Shreya Saha, Barisha Girls High School
3rd Prize- Gitesh Jana, New Alipore Multipurpose Boys School
Photography Competition (open to all age groups)
1st Prize- Anita Singh
2nd Prize- Sirsendu Gayen
3rd Prize- Avik Kumar Das
All the regional heads of Kolkata and Howrah offices of Botanical Survey of India namely Dr. Pratibha Gupta, Scientist-F & HoO, Central Botanical Laboratory, Dr. J. Jayanthi, Scientist- E & HoO, In-charge, BSI, Hq., Dr. S.S. Dash, Scientist-E & In-charge, Technical Section, BSI, Hq., Dr. D. K. Agrawala, Scientist-E & In-charge, Publication Section, BSI, Hq., Dr. R. K. Gupta, Scientist-E & HoO, Central National Herbarium and Dr. K. Karthigeyan, Scientist-E & In-charge, EIACP, Dr. Devendra Singh, Scientist- E & HoO, AJCBIBG and all the officers and officials of all regional units of Kolkata were also present in the programme. All the dignitaries emphasised the urgent need for the conservation of biodiversity through mass plantation to beat the harmful effect of pollution in every sphere of life to save Mother Earth.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks from Dr. Sitaram Prasad Panda, Curator In-charge, AJCBIBG.
