By TCN News,
Krishnagar, Nadia (West Bengal): In a major eco-friendly venture that should inspire educational institutions of all streams, Don Bosco Technical School in Krishnagar of Nadia district has launched an ambitious Go Green project whereby the students and others would plant 12,000 high yielding timber saplings. The weeklong project started on 22nd September. The saplings are of high quality timber yielding local varieties of trees like Mahagani, Akashmuni, Teak, and Kodam. The cost per sapling is just Rs. 2.00.
Explaining the urgency of the project, Rector of the 78-year-old Don Bosco Youth Centre Krishnagar Fr Thomas Kayyalackal said, “It is to utilize the land lying fallow, to protect the property from being encroached, and to be part of the go green movement.”
“Besides providing green cover to the barren area in our farm, we hope to provide employment to people as well as set a model for other people to emulate. Eventually we hope to get economic benefit of having timber for our carpentry training school as well as getting financial support for the institution,” said Fr Kayyalackal.
The Superintendent of DB Tech Fr Mani Kariapuram said, “We hope to involve some 80 people (all the formal students, teachers and other collaborators of the Don Bosco Technical School, Krishnagar – in this project.”
The government officials particularly the District Commissioner, the Sub Divisional Officer, as well as officials of the forest department, the police, the schools, religious communities around, the Salesian province of Kolkata have shown considerable interest in the novel project.
Speaking at the inaugural function on Saturday, local Member of Legislative Assembly Mr Aboni Joardar (Retd. IPS) said, “This is indeed a praiseworthy initiative by Don Bosco Krishnagar and an example to be emulated and it is hoped that more and more people realise the necessity of such initiative and carry such projects forward.”
To ensure that the saplings are not forgotten after the initial hoopla the school authorities have divided the forest into several sections and each section will be entrusted to one class each. A few people are also employed to look after the trees.
With a sturdy wall around the compound, gates with cow traps, guards, regular supply of water and manure, the Go Green campaigners have ensured the plants’ growth and protection from predators.