Salepur, Sept 10 [UDN}: A tree plantation programme was organised by the Salepur branch of the Odisha Journalists’ Union (OJU) at the premises of Guali Bilvakantha Math, located along the Mahanadi River in Tarito Gram Panchayat.
OJU district vice-president Prafulla Mishra presided over the programme. Salepur Superintendent of Police Biranchi Narayan Pati attended the event as the chief guest, while OJU district president Prafulla Kumar Mahanti delivered the keynote address. District general secretary Ajay Kumar Das, OJU state executive committee member Kanan Bihari Nayak, Kishannagar police station officer-in-charge Maneswar Pradhan, Madhumati Journalists’ Association president Sarada Prasanna Panda, and secretary Biranchi Narayan Kar were among the distinguished guests.
The guests and speakers highlighted the importance of tree plantation and the need to protect and preserve the environment. They emphasised that increasing green cover is essential for maintaining ecological balance, protecting biodiversity, improving air quality and ensuring a healthier environment for future generations.
As part of the initiative, various medicinal and fruit-bearing saplings were planted across the premises of the math. Local residents, including Shiva Prasad Puhan, Ishwar Chandra Parida, Rajesh Rautaray, Anjan Parida, Pabitra Puhan, Prakash Parida, Ajit Parida, Prasanna Parida, Prabodh Parida and Kishore Parida, pledged to take responsibility for protecting and caring for the newly planted trees.
A large number of journalists, media representatives and other dignitaries also participated in the plantation drive. Those present included litterateur Chandramani Bhuyan, district journalists’ union member Narayan Ojha, Chittaranjan Muduli, Umakanta Jena, Pratyush Kumar Mahanti, Binay Dash, Er. Santosh Kumar Swain, Jangeshwar Biswal, Ratikanta Pattnaik, Bhairab Chandra Sethi, Saroj Mallik, Sambit Pattnaik, Jagadish Rout, Jagannath Acharya, Gyan Ranjan Das, Kailash Chandra Behera, Chitta Ranjan Behera, Syed Alam Hussain and Sheikh Rahimuddin, among others.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Pradip Parija, secretary of the District Journalists’ Union.
