Forum for a better Hyderabad takes up Green India Challenge

Celebrating the World Rivers Day, Forum chairperson Manikonda Vedakumar led a riverfront walk by the Musi and planted saplings along the walkway near Salar Jung Museum.

Hyderabad: Forum for a Better Hyderabad, a city-based environmental protection organisation, took part in the Green India Challenge (GIC) on Sunday.

Celebrating the World Rivers Day, Forum chairperson Manikonda Vedakumar led a riverfront walk by the Musi and planted saplings along the walkway near Salar Jung Museum. Accompanying him were students from All Saints High School, St. Sai Vidya Niketan High School, Government schools, in addition to GIC’s co-founder S. Raghava.

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The event also included an exhibition of several old photos of river Musi and after Vedakumar planted the first sapling, others joined in, planting 50 saplings overall.

“The fourth Sunday of September is observed as World Rivers Day globally and we are doing it for the first time in the city, celebrating Musi. I was nominated by my former student Dr. Chetana, to take up the Green India Challenge and we took it up,” said Vedakumar who also nominated Shanta Sinha, National Child Rights Commission chairperson, Harpreet Singh, IAS, Waqf Board Deputy CEO Mohammad Safi Ullah among others to take up the challenge.

Raghava also planted a sapling and said GIC’s initiator, MP Joginapally Santosh Kumar inspired many to take it up and also informed about their forest adoption plans. “We have identified 80 forest clusters in HMDA circle and we are planning on adopting those forests to help save the environment. Several celebrities and organisations have come forward to be a part of this. We are trying to ensure all 80 clusters are adopted soon,” he said.

Asha Katikaneni, a teacher present at the event, said, “It’s just like a game of tag. All of us have to collectively accept this challenge and spread it more. That is the only way we can bring positive change and sustainability in the future. I am happy to see school children actively taking part here.”

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