Tributes paid to Dr. YS Parmar on birth anniversary

Nauni (Himachal Pradesh): Rich tributes were paid today to the architect of modern Himachal Pradesh and the first Chief Minister Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar on his birth anniversary at the Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni. In a befitting tribute to the leader, the Van Mahotsav campaign of the university culminated today while a fleet of three e carts was flagged off on the campus.
 
The event began with the university officials and staff paying floral tributes to the visionary leader whose efforts led to the full statehood of Himachal Pradesh. Dr. Divender Gupta, Director Extension Education welcomed the participants and talked about the vision of Dr. Parmar in the development of agriculture, horticulture and forestry in the state. Dr. Vimal Chauhan, HOD Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry informed that during the month-long plantation drive all the departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Research stations of the university along with the colleges at Neri and Thunag planted over 12800 plants of various varieties. In addition, the university also supplied over 17000 forest trees to various organizations for plantation.
  
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, UHF Vice-Chancellor said it was a matter of great pride and honour that the university was named after the visionary leader who worked for the development of horticulture and forestry in Himachal. He said that Dr. Parmar was a visionary leader who knew that agriculture alone could not lead to the development of the farming sector in the state and therefore linked horticulture and forestry to it. He said that Dr. Parmar knew the importance of traditional crops and promoted their cultivation in the state. Dr. Kaushal urged the scientists and the staff to work towards taking his vision forward.
He added that grasses, medicinal and aromatic plants along with fodder trees must also be included for plantation during Van Mahotsav. 
 
E carts flagged off 
Earlier, three e carts were flagged off in the main campus by the Vice-Chancellor. The carts have been procured under the Green Initiatives of ICAR’s National Higher Education Project’s Institutional Development Plan. Under the project, four battery-operated carts ranging from 4 to 14 seaters have been purchased for around Rs 29 lakh. The carts can run between 50-70 km on a single charge. These will be used to ferry students and staff on the campus thereby substantially reducing air pollution. Dr. KK Raina, PI IDP, Dr. Manish Sharma, CO PI along with procurement officer Dr. YR Shukla along with the whole IDP team were present on the occasion.
   
Talking about the green initiatives of the university, Dr. Kaushal said the university is in the process of transforming its campus into a clean, green and smart campus. He said that flagging off the e-carts and plantation drive on Dr. Parmar’s birth anniversary is a fitting homage to this role model leader of the hill states. He informed that the university is also in the process of harnessing solar energy by establishing a solar rooftop plant and solar steam kitchen for students. A solid waste to compost treatment plant and solar laundry system will also be established at the university. 
 
The Van Mahotsav drive of the university concluded today with the plantation of over 250 pomegranate plants. All the statutory officers, heads of departments, scientists, staff of administrative block and Directorate of Extension Education along with the IDP team took part in the plantation.