On 19 July an extraordinary ecological initiative was nurtured during Van Mahotsav – India’s annual tree-planting festival – celebration. INTACH Natural Heritage Division organised the HSBC Volunteer Engagement Plantation Drive, supported by the IBG Authority at the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden (IBG) in Howrah. In this drive over 50 Pine tree saplings were planted in designated zones. While Pines naturally flourish in mountainous regions (1,000–2,000 m above mean sea level), their introduction to the humid plains in West Bengal’s Howrah district is an extraordinary initiative.
INTACH Natural Heritage Division (Delhi) Mr. Abhishek the plantation drive. The Van Mahotsav event was attended by INTACH Calcutta Chapter Convenor Mr. G.M. Kapur, Co-convenors Mrs. Kanchana Mukhopadhyay and Ms. Nayantara Palchoudhuri, Life Members – Mr. Samirendu Dutt, Mr. Kamal Banerjee, Ms. Aditi Chatterji, Mr. Anindya Dey, Dr. Ar. Sutapa Joti, and Ms. Smita Mehta. Under the expert supervision of IBG staff, groups of HSBC Bank volunteers with INTACH members carefully planted the saplings for long-term survival.
