Hyderabad: State Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged people to take collective responsibility for **environmental protection** during World Environment Day celebrations in Siddipet district.
He attended a plantation programme organised by the Forest Department at the Urban Oxygen Park in Marpadaga village of Kondapak mandal.
The minister planted saplings and unveiled a poster titled “Do You Know the Value of a Tree”.
He also administered an environmental pledge to participants.
Environmental protection requires sustained public involvement
Addressing the gathering, Ponnam Prabhakar said the state government introduced a zero-tax electric vehicle policy to curb pollution.
He said the government wanted to prevent pollution levels seen in major metropolitan cities.
The minister said planting trees should become part of everyday life.
He added that plantation drives should not remain limited to government programmes.
Ponnam Prabhakar directed officials to plant saplings at the four lakh Indiramma houses under construction.
He also asked authorities to take up plantation activities on available government land.
Meanwhile, the government formed five-member committees in villages to monitor saplings.
The minister suggested giving priority to fruit-bearing trees to address the monkey menace.
Furthermore, he said the government would honour sarpanches of villages that excel in plantation activities.
He added that the government distributed steel banks to women’s groups and reusable glasses to hotels.
According to him, the initiative promotes cleanliness and environmental awareness.
Medak MP Raghunandan Rao, District Collector Haimavathi, CP Rashmi Perumal, Additional Collector Lakshmi Kiran and Library Authority Chairman Daripalli Chandram attended the programme.