Kathmandu, June 5: On the occasion of the World Environment Day Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala gave away the Sarbamanya Ganeshman Singh Forest Conservation Award to the Githapani Community Forest Users Group, Bajhang, Rhishikhola Women Community Forest Users’ Group, Dadeldhura and the Thulodanda Gaira Salleri Community Forest Users’ Group, Rolpa for their oustanding contribution in the forest conservation through community forest amid a function here today.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala initiated an afforestation programme at Kirtipur Municipality ward No 14 by planting champaka and walnut saplings.

About 416 saplings of different species were planted on the occasion.

Addressing the function, Prime Minister Koirala said the fruits of development cannot reach the people even if we carry out development works as natural disasters like floods and landslides would take place if we fail to protect the environment.

Science and technology have made the world a small community but it has also invited problems, he said, adding that if the environment of a country deteriorates, it will have adverse impact on the neighbouring country.

The Prime Minister expressed the conviction that there are no genuine landless but there is a lot of migrants adding that if we cannot check forest encroachment the forest of Nepal cannot remain secure.

From the chair, Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam expressed the view that the programmes launched with the participation of the masses can contribute to national development.

Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation Rabi Bahadur Bista said afforestation is not a problem but it is important to conserve it. Protection of the forest is the big challenge before us today, added.

Conservation: Meanwhile, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has said that the conscious citizens should work for redressing of the environmental imbalance in the world.

At an afforestation programme organised by Ranibari User Committee at Ranibari on the occasion of the World Environment Day today, Speaker Ranabhat said that environment should be conserved for all to live a better life.

As the jungle of Ranibari has been providing fresh air to Kathmandu already suffering from pollution, preservation of Ranibari has been a must, he added.

President of Reporters Club, Nepal Rishi Dhamala requested the government to take initiative to make the Ranibari a tourist spot.

Committee chairman Ratna Bahadur Nepali, tourism entrepreneur Shyam Pandey and a host of other speakers expressed their views at the programme chaired by vice-chairman of the organising committee Raju Maharjan.

Committee treasurer Kavindra Ratna Kansakar presented a budget estimate of Rs 5,903,000 to build a park at Ranibari.

Similarly, on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare organised a discussion programme on “contribution of women to the protection of environment” here today.

Speaking at the programme, Minister of State for Population and Environment Shivaraj Joshi said women have an important role to play in protecting the environment and therefore they should be educated about managing environment and population.

As the conscious civic society also has a big role in protecting the environment, they should go to the villages and generate public awareness to this end, he added.

Environmentalist Dr Chandra Bhadra said as women in the country have to spend their entire day on collecting fodder, water, fire wood and on the agriculture and forest sector they posses traditional knowledge of environment protection.

Since women are very closely related with environment one third of the seats in committees or council relating to environment protection should go to women, she added.

Joint secretary at the Ministry Krishna Prasad Sharma presided.

Awareness: On the occasion of World Environment Day the Bagmati area sewerage construction improvement project implementation and monitoring committee organised today a environment awareness walk from Gokarna to Guheswori.

On the occasion an afforestration programme was also organised on the premises of Guheswori temple.

Speaking on the occasion Hutaram Vaidhya said local people have bigger responsibility than the government in protecting the rivers in the valley.

Committee chairman Bidur Prasad Mainali presided.