Houston Maharashtra Mandal Celebrates Vruksha Ropan and World Environment Day

By Ravi Ozarker
HOUSTON: Industrial pollution is currently at record levels in Houston these days and home construction is also at its peak. All this boils down to a polluted environment which result to deadly diseases. This is the same natural environment where our kids play and breathe. We as a community have to realize that every single one of us is responsible for this and should take some steps to reduce our carbon foot print. Trees as everyone knows are extremely useful in purifying our natural environment. We as active community members can help the city plant trees at locations in Houston and surrounding areas.
Houston Maharashtra Mandal (HMM) President, Megha Ozarker says that we as residents of Houston cannot change the city landscape in a day or month but we together can take small baby steps to make a difference in the long run.
HMM Members successfully planted 14 trees in Eagle Sky Park on May 31, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. HMM Members dug fourteen 2’ deep holes to plant big 7’ trees. This event is called Vruksha Ropan in Maharashtra, India or tree plantation. People in Maharashtra organize this type of event but with smaller trees. The task of digging holes at some spots was difficult but the enthusiasm, cold drinks, and Bollywood/Marathi music made the tough task a bit easy. Everyone who attended the event also realized the magnificent effort our Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D) is investing to keep our parks clean and green. HMM is proud of the dedication of its members and H.P.A.R.D to help our community.
Special thanks to Shrikant Sane, Praful and Manisha Joshi and their two daughters, Sandeep and Vaishali Bhalerao with their infant son, Prakash and Nirmala Dusane, and Ravi and Megha Ozarker with their son. It was a pleasure to see Sandeep’s infant son plant the massive tree. Praful’s daughters and Ravi’s son also helped their parents consistently and will receive volunteer hours certificate from HMM.
HMM members said that they will frequently come back to Eagle Sky Park to check on the progress of the planted trees.
June 5th is World Environment Day and on this day everyone should make an attempt to reduce their carbon footprint and save our forests.