New Delhi: Indian test cricket team captain Virat Kohli and double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar today participated in a sapling plantation drive on the occasion of 'World Environment Day'.
Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar was also present at the event who arrived on an electronic scooty.
The Environment Ministry has invited several eminent sports personalities to participate in its countrywide campaign.
Prakash Javadekar yesterday said that a similar programme will also be held in Mumbai also where India cricketers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane will be joined by Sachin Tendulkar along with state Education Minister Vinod Tahwade.
"This is a good start and we appeal to people that they should also join the campaign by planting more and more trees," said Javadekar said.
Pathan brothers Irfan and Yusuf will be a part of the ocassion in Vadodara, former Test player Narendra Hirwani, ex-BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale and state Environemnt Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya will participate in Indore.
The minister said that no single category of trees or plants will be promoted.
"We are not going for mono-culture. People are encouraged to plant native species of plants in their area as different climatic zone have different variety of plants," Javadekar said.
Members of the Indian cricket that is scheduled to leave for Bangladesh on June 7 will take part in sapling plantation drive in Kolkata, a day before.
Boxers Mary Kom and Sarita Devi, cue sport legend Geet Sethi and former India Hockey Captain Viren Rasquinha will be travelling on June 5, so they join the league from their places of location.
(With inputs from agencies)
