Bhubaneswar: Inaugurating a state-level Sabuja Mahotsav organised by city-based NGO Prerana here on Tuesday, Governor MC Bhandare urged every citizen to plant a sapling each year and ensure its growth which will counter the effects of global warming.

He also called for the involvement of youth in environment awareness and protection initiatives. Bhandare presented Sabuja Award to 11 eminent persons, including Gandharba Nayak, Sujata Sahoo, Biswamohan Patnaik, Sachin Baliyarsingh, Dillip Biswal, Chitta Ranjan Behera, Tapas Das, Debi Prasad Rath, Santosh Srichandan, Seikh Kalimulla, Jarab Zalil Khan, Himanshu Sahu and Basudev Mal Bisoi.

Former chief secretary Sahadev Sahoo, KITT and KISS founder Dr Achyut Samant, Prerana president Dr Dillip Srichandan and educationist Chandrasekhar Pati also spoke.
Earlier in the morning, the governor planted an Ashoka sapling in the Shyamananda Park of Raj Bhawan. Among others, governor’s secretary Parag Gupta, special secretary Surendra Mishra and controllor SN Panigrahi were also present.