The Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has started planting 10,000 trees. Several organizations have come forward to take this initiative ahead, organization like Restore Earth, Hari Mitti and the Residents’ Associations have started planting trees in New Town in association with NKDA.
Meanwhile, CDE Asia in association with NKDA undertook mass tree plantation drive, with the objective of off-setting harmful effects of Carbon Footprints and enhancing the green cover of Kolkata. In sync with this thought, 1000 trees were planted by the group in New Town at NKDA Green Verge No. 3 on July 13, 2021.
Mr. Debashis Sen, Chairman HIDCO/NDITA, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal and Mr. Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner, Kolkata graced the occasion amidst the presence of Mr. Manish Bhartia, MD, CDE Asia Ltd.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Debashis Sen, Chairman HIDCO/NDITA, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of West Bengal said, “We believe that tree plantation is a great way forward towards sustainable living. We are happy to collaborate with CDE Asia in enhancing the green cover of Kolkata. New Town, being the platinum-rated green city, has set a target of 10,000 plantations this year, and our association with CDE Asia would go a long way in achieving this.”
Mr Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata expressed, “I appreciate this initiative of tree plantation by CDE Asia and the efforts undertaken by them to become carbon-neutral by 2025. There is a need to increase the green cover by arresting carbon emissions which involve protecting and restoring nature on an unprecedented scale. We need to be concerned about rising earth’s temperature, leading to climate change, thus playing havoc with humanity, globally. There needs to be a change in the way we look at our planet earth.”
Mr Manish Bhartia, Promoter & MD, CDE Asia Ltd. said “The logistics operations are majorly contributing to the carbon emissions owing to procurement and delivery of supplies to our customers. To counter this, we have undertaken carbon offset projects which will have a proven and measurable impact on communities and the environment. These projects would help to increase green cover and support renewable energy projects. Tree-plantation drive is one such step in the direction of becoming carbon neutral by 2025.”
CDE Asia has aligned itself with Sustainable Development Goals with the following activities:
The implementation and maintenance of this and other such projects will be supervised by the dedicated team of Sand Grains Foundation, the CSR arm of CDE Asia.
Earlier, the authorities had already planted nearly 20,000 trees since Cyclone Amphan hit the city last year. As part of continuous effort several NGOs are adopting the green in New Town in association with NKDA, Resident Associations and local residents, by planting and adopting trees and their maintenance. Moreover, trees such as banyan, neem, coconut, guava etc are being planted in vacant plots across the township. Out of the total 4,647 trees that got affected due to Cyclone Amphan last year, 3,738 were restored by the authorities.
