Bhopal, Mar 21: A grand rally was taken out to mark International Forestry Day here today. The rally originated from in front of the Chief Minister's residence. Earlier, State Election Commissioner AV Singh, who was the chief guest, administered the oath to participating students of schools, colleges and other rallyists to strive for protection and augmentation of forests and wildlife. Later, the chief guest flagged the rally off after releasing green and white balloons in the air.

Those present on the occasion included Principal Secretary Forest Prashant Mehta, Managing Director, MP State Small Forest Produce Cooperative Federation, RK Dave, Conservator of Forests Dr AK Bhattacharya, Divisional Forest Officer Ravindra Saxena, other senior officers and employees of Forest Department, distinguished citizens and teachers and students of schools and colleges.

On this occasion, Forest Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's Forestry Day message was read out. The message said that conservation and augmentation of forests is the only alternative for maintaining ecological balance. In his message Kunwar Shah said hoped that International Forestry Day would go a long way in creating awareness among the masses.

The rally started at 8 am from in front of Chief Minister's residence and after vending its way through Polytechnic College, Roshanpura crossing, New Market, Link Road No. 1 culminated at Indira Gandhi Nursery. The students were carrying placards on which slogans about forest conservation were written in various languages of India. The rallyists were also raising slogans in favour of protection of forests and wildlife.

Students of MLB College, Benazir College, Kasturba High School, Kamla Nehru High School, Vidya Vihar School, Deep Shikha School, New Subhash Higher Secondary School, Chandrashekhar School, Sardar Patel School, Old Campion School, Sagar Institute, cadets of Scouts and Guides, NSS, members of Junoon Adventure Sports, Art of Living, Bhopal Birds, Anglers Association, National Green Corps and employees of Canara bank took part in one kilometre long rally and gave the message of forest conservation to people.

The rally was jointly organised by Forest Department, Canara Bank, Junoon Sports, Art of Living, Bhopal Birds, Anglers Association and National Green Corps.

Forest resources conservation must: CM

In his message to the people on the occasion of International Forestry Day, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that ecological balance can be maintained only through conservation and development of forest resources.

He said in his message that systematic management of forest resources is necessary for existence of life. International Forestry Day is observed with a view to creating awareness among the masses towards conservation and augmentation of forest. The Chief Minister informed that the state government has taken several decisions for development of village resources apart from forestry development. The Forest Policy-2005 of Madhya Pradesh is focused on better forest management as well as public welfare. New job opportunities have been created in the rural areas through forestry development schemes. Public participation in forestry development programmes has increased in big way.

Chief Minister Chouhan has hoped that International Forestry Day would succeed in its objectives of generating awareness towards importance of conservation and augmentation of forests all over the world.