The South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) launched a massive tree plantation program aimed at the promotion of the environment, with the event taking place on Sunday, August 20, 2023, at Patangan, Surat International Exhibition and Convention Center, Sarsana.
The program, which began at 7:00 am and concluded at 10:00 am, saw the planting of 840 trees. Gujarat State Forest and Environment Minister (State Level), Mukesh Patel, inaugurated the event by planting the first tree, followed by dignitaries such as Surat Municipal Corporation Standing Committee Chairman Paresh Patel.
Chamber of Commerce President Ramesh Vaghasia outlined ambitious plans for the program under SGCCI's Global Connect Mission 84. A total of 8400 saplings will be planted over the next 10 Sundays, making the entire campus green and oxygenated. Additionally, business agreements with 84 countries will be signed for a total of 84000 crores at the same location. The Chamber also presented a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Minister Mukesh Patel lauded the initiative, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's establishment of the Climate Change Department during his tenure as Gujarat's Chief Minister. He emphasized the importance of planting trees in the face of global warming and the recent unseasonal rains that have damaged the environment.
Standing Committee Chairman Paresh Patel praised the Chamber of Commerce's efforts under the "Green Earth-Green Surat" campaign and highlighted plans to create parallel walkways with 8400 trees in the coming months.
The initiative was supported by Grow Native Green Forum, with more than 100 members actively participating in the plantation drive. Various industry associations, Rotary Club members, Susanskar Deep Yuva Mandal, the Vaghasia family, and other organizations also joined the effort, each planting saplings in their name.
The program demonstrates a significant commitment to environmental stewardship by the SGCCI and participating partners. By leveraging the famous Japanese Miyawaki method of dense planting, the organizers aim to create an urban forest, signaling a promising step towards a more sustainable and green future for the region.
