Kathmandu, June 27: On the occasion of the 30th Auspicious Birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala initiated an afforestation programme by planting a sapling of “Rudraksha”(ultrasum bead tree) on the premises of the cabinet secretariat, Singha Durbar today.

The afforestation programme was organised by the Ministry of Population and Environment in accordance with the decision taken by the cabinet secretariat on June 5 directing all government offices or organisations receiving government assistance and education institutions to plant at least 10 saplings each in offices under them to mark the World Environment Day.

Various species of saplings were planted at the afforestation programme participated in by the ministers, the MPs, HMG secretaries and other high ranking officials.

Also today, about 200 saplings of different species were planted on the premises of Singha Durbar. The programme was coordinated by the Ministry of Population and Environment.

On the occasion of the Auspicious 30th Birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat initiated an afforestation programme at the parliament grounds today.

During the function participated in by National Assembly Chairman Dr Mohamad Mohsin, 60 saplings of various species were planted.

The afforestation organised by the parliament secretariat was participated in by senior officials of the secretariat also.

On the occasion of the 30th Auspicious Birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and World Environment Day, Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi, who is also looking after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated an afforestation programme on the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Foreign secretary Narayan Shumsher Thapa and officials of the ministry and the department of guest relations and the Institute of Foreign Affairs also took part in the afforestation programme.

Marking the same occasion, Minister of State for Local Development Suresh Malla initiated an afforestation programme on the premises of the ministry.

Saplings of different kinds of fruits were planted on the occasion.

Likewise, Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam initiated an afforestation programme on the public land at Thapagaon of Kirtipur Municipality-8 organised by the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation.

Around 425 saplings of different species were planted on the occasion.

On the same occasion, office-bearers of the department of education and various educational bodies at Sano Thimi planted 200 saplings of different species on the premises of the proposed building of the Department of Education at Sano Thimi today.

On the occasion of the Auspicious 30th Birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, a morning procession was organised here today by the Culture and Sports Sub-committee constituted under the Auspicious Birthday Civic Main Celebration Management Committee.

Participating in the procession were Raj Parisahd Standing Committee member Dr Ratna Kamal Vaidhya, Civic Main Celebration Management Committee chairman Rajesh Kazi Shrestha, sub committee convenor Mrs Gita Rana, Nepal Scouts officials and children from some l0 schools in the valley.

The procession which started from Singha Durbar made its way past Putali Sadak, Bagbazar, the Clock Tower, Durbarmarg, the South Gate and Keshar Mahal to disperse upon reaching the South Gate of the Royal Palace.

On the same occasion, the cultural and sports sub committee organised a valley wide art competition yesterday.

Rachya Shrestha of Saraswati Kunj Secondary School, Baba Boarding School’s Kumar Lama, Tej Bahadur Gurung of Blue Moon School and Himani Khatri of Galaxy Public School won the first, second, third and consolation prizes in the competition held on the theme of My Country.

Fifteen schools participated in the competition.

Meanwhile, a day long free dental camp was held today at the People’s Dental College and Teaching Hospital, Naya Bazaar to mark the 30th Auspicious Birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

The target of the camp organised under the joint aegis of the Auspicious Birthday Main Civic Celebration Management Committee 2057 and the college is to provide treatment to over 200 patients.

Inaugurating the camp, Minister of State for Health Tirtha Ram Dangol extended best wishes to the college and hoped that the manpower to be trained by it would be capable of competing with outsiders.

A host of speakers including Civic Celebration Management Committee vice-chairman Narendra Bajracharya, chief administrator of the college and executive chairman Prof. Tirtha Ratna Bajracharya, departmental head Dr.Harish Joshi and hospital in-charge Dr.Suraj Ram Bhakta also expressed their view.

Only one dental surgeon is available in Nepal for every 200,000 people.

On the occasion of the Auspicious 30th Birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Raj Parishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi inaugurated a peace art exhibition organised here today by the Brahma Kumari Rajyog Service Center Thamel.

On the occasion, Dr Rayamajhi said that we should work for the good of the country and people and for peace, goodwill and humanity.

He also remarked that the BrahmaKumari Ishwari University has made a big contribution to peace in society and towards human welbeing.

Speaking from the chair, Brahmakumari Rajyog Service Center Nepal director Brahmakumari Rajdidi said peace for the individual derives from good karma, good deeds and good speech.

Nepal Motion Picture Development Company chairman DB Thapa, Lions Club International 325 secretary Jeevan Lal Piya, Jaycees former chairman Rajendra Bahadur Shrestha and others also expressed their views.

Meanwhile, reports on the celebration of the 30th Auspicious Birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince amid a variety of programmes have been received here.

Some 51 persons including office bearers of the Kharel Society Nepal donated their blood at a blood donation programme held by the society Sunday to mark the Auspicious Birthday.

Deputy Speaker Chitralekha Yadav gave away certificates to the participants of a blood donation held at Hanumandhoka yesterday under the joint auspices of the 30th Auspicious Birthday Civic Main Celebration Management Committee and the National Development and Felicitation Committee.

A total of 65 persons including MP Shankar Prasad Pandey, Dr. Ananda Shrestha who has already donated blood 107 times, speedy Mt Everest conqueror Kaji Sherpa and chairman of the society Kamal Prasad Dahal donated their blood.

At another blood donation programme organised by the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, some 54 persons donated their blood.

Association chairman Rajendra Bantawa underlined the need for stocking up on blood for persons engaged in trekking and adventure tourism in view of the vulnerabilities involved.

Dr. Basudev Sharma of Nepal Red Cross Society said that blood donation has significance not only as philanthropic work but also for its positive impact on physique.

Dr. Swami Prapannacharya, inaugurating a Tulsi temple constructed by the Srikrishna Jyoti Tulsi Service Committee at Budhanilkantha on the occasion of the 30th Auspicious Birthday of HRH the Crown Prince, said that the monarchy, the focus of national unity, will remain strong so long as Nepalese culture is preserved.

Chief guest Bhadravatidham Pithadhis Sri 108 Tahal Kishore Shastri of Gujarat, India planted Tulsi saplings at the temple premises wishing good health and long life to HRH the Crown Prince.

The National Dental Hospital in collaboration with Lajimpat Club rendered dental services to some 51 patients free of cost at the home for elderly persons at Matatirtha and at Mahadevsthan VDC on the occasion of the 30th Auspicious Birthday of HRH the Crown Prince.