Greenman Viral Desai, GPCB sign MoU to protect environment

SURAT, Gujarat: The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Hearts at Work foundation of renowned Environmentalist Greenman Viral Desai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Satyagraha against pollution and climate change that aims to create ten Miyawaki Urban Forests along with a large-scale environment awareness campaign.

As per the provisions of the MoU, Hearts at Work Foundation and GPCB will work to generate awareness amongst over 20,000 youth of Surat. They will be informed about the ill effects of climate change on the lives of people.

Apart from that, the MoU will facilitate the creation of at least ten Miyawaki Urban Forests with the joint efforts of the concerned parties. The two institutions and Pandesara Infrastructure Limited have already built the first Miyawaki urban forest in Pandesara Industrial, named ‘Amrut Van’.

Dr Jignasha Oza, Regional Officer, GPCB, said, “This is for the first time that our board, which is dedicated to pollution control, gets associated with the NGO like Hearts at Work foundation, which is fully dedicated to environmental protection. Pollution control is our top priority and to work intensely for tree plantation and pollution awareness is a matter of happiness and pride for the department.”

Viral Desai, Founder of Heart at Work Foundation said, “To get involved and work for environment protection with a body like GPCB is a matter of honour for us. We are confident that in the coming days, the movement of Satyagraha against pollution and climate change will reach the youth of Surat and the whole of Gujarat. We will surely reach the positive end of climate change.” Additionally, under the MoU, the new office of GPCB will be developed as a green office based on the theme of climate change and ecosystem restoration.