Mysuru: Former Chief Minister and State BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa visited the Green Mysuru Abhiyan Farm on Nanjangud Road recently and inspected the preparations for the launch of Green Mysuru Abhiyan.

He expressed happiness at the launch of Green Mysuru programme by H.V. Rajeev Sneha Balaga and said that such initiatives must be started in all the cities and villages in the State and asked the public and organisations to join the movement. Taking up this project along with Swachh Mysuru is very laudable, Yeddyurappa added.

Background: The H.V. Rajeev Sneha Balaga which started the Swachh Mysuru Abhiyan on Nov.1, 2014 has successfully completed 281 weeks without interruption.

This year, seeing the temperatures in the city touching 38 degrees Celsius and as a consequence the problems being faced by the people and the animals, the Balaga decided to take up the cause of protecting the environment and the rise in temperature.

With this aim in mind, they started the ‘Green Mysuru’ Abhiyan and decided to collect honge, neem, mahogany, jamun and other forest saplings and store it in Rajeev’s farm on Nanjangud Road (next to Gejjagalli Gate).

As of now, there are 10,500 saplings stored of which 2,500 are 8 to 10 feet in height and the remaining 8,000 are 3 to 4 feet in height. The idea is to do the re-bagging of the latter saplings by growing them to a height of 8 to 10 feet, said Convenor K.S. Sheshaprasad speaking to Star of Mysore.

The reason to do this is to see that the saplings are not destroyed by cattle and even man after they are planted and this can be stopped if the plants grow to a height of 8 to 10 feet and then planted, he added.

H.V. Rajeev Sneha Balaga is tying up with the Sri Kshetra Dharamsthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) and Dharmadikari Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade is likely to inaugurate the Green Mysuru Abhiyan shortly, said Sheshaprasad.

The saplings will be planted in many parts of the city including in parks and public places in association with Sri Kalki Bhagavan Sevalaya, Spandana Trust, Koti Vriksha Prathisthan and other voluntary organisations, he said.