Hemant Soren, Wife Kalpana Join 77th State Forest Festival, Call for People's Participation in Environmental Conservation

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife, MLA Kalpana Soren, on Friday participated in the 77th State Forest Festival held at the Harivansh Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium in Ranchi's Khelgaon. During the event, they stressed the urgent need for environmental conservation, highlighted the growing challenges posed by climate change, and underscored the importance of tree plantation.

The Chief Minister and Kalpana Soren planted saplings to promote environmental protection and encourage a greener future. Hemant Soren urged people across the state to plant more trees and take responsibility for their protection, saying afforestation remains one of the most effective ways to maintain ecological balance in the face of climate change.

Balancing development and environment is key to a sustainable future

Addressing the gathering, Hemant Soren said climate change has emerged as one of the world's most serious challenges, with its impact extending beyond the environment to human life, agriculture, water resources, biodiversity and the overall development process.

He said continuous exploitation of natural resources, unchecked environmental interference and unplanned development activities have accelerated climate change. Industrialisation, mining, urbanisation and infrastructure development, he noted, have had a direct impact on the environment.

The Chief Minister stressed that maintaining a balance between development and environmental conservation is the need of the hour. Development, he said, can only be meaningful if it progresses in harmony with nature.

He called upon citizens to avoid unnecessary exploitation of nature and ensure the responsible use of precious resources such as water, forests and land. To secure a clean and safe environment for future generations, he said, immediate action is needed in areas such as afforestation, forest conservation, water conservation and biodiversity protection through active public participation.

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"Environmental conservation is not the responsibility of the government alone or of any single institution. It is the moral and social responsibility of every citizen. Unless people actively participate, it will not be possible to effectively tackle the global challenge of climate change," the Chief Minister said, urging citizens to turn environmental protection into a mass movement for building a greener and more prosperous future.

Referring to the recent floods in Assam and several other parts of the country, Hemant Soren said the impact of climate change and ecological imbalance extends beyond human lives and significantly affects wildlife, biodiversity and the entire ecosystem.

He pointed out that floods cause extensive damage to wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and protected forest areas, destroying natural habitats and threatening the survival of animals and birds. Many wild animals are forced to leave their habitats in search of food and shelter, putting their safety and existence at risk.

20 Van Mitras and committee representatives honoured

On the occasion of the 77th State Forest Festival, Chief Minister Hemant Soren honoured 20 Van Mitras and committee representatives selected from different forest divisions of Jharkhand for their outstanding contribution to forest conservation, afforestation, biodiversity protection and community forest management.

Appreciating their efforts, he said their dedication serves as an inspiration and plays a significant role in strengthening environmental conservation and building a greener Jharkhand.