The Covid -19 pandemic turned the World Environment Day into a low-key affair in the steel city on Saturday.

World Environment Day is celebrated annually and is the United Nation's principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment.

Saplings were sown at various pockets of East Singhbhum, including Jamshedpur, in events organised by Jamshedpur forest division, district administration, social organisations, schools and clubs. Social distancing was maintained while celebrating the occasion.

Political parties also celebrated the occasion.

East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Suraj Kumar, sub-divisional officer (Dalbhum) Nitesh Kumar, SSP M.Tamil Vanan, SP (City) Subhash Chandra Jat, CRPF DIG Ashu Kumar, regional chief conservator of forest (Jamshedpur division) Jabbar Singh were divisional forest officer Mamta Priyadarshi were present at the event organised by Jamshedpur forest division at Ghorabanda Park near Telco township

“Humans are largely responsible for the imbalance in environment. This is the reason behind problems like flood, drought, global warming and unseasonal rains. Let us pledge to work for conservation of environment,” the DC said after sowing a sapling..

SSP, SDO and forest officials also planted saplings on the occasion.

“A total of 22 saplings were sown. We kept the occasion low-profile because of the pandemic,” DFO Priyadarshi said.

Former chief minister and BJP national vice-president Raghubar Das and Jamshedpur East MLA Sarayu Roy also planted saplings and stressed on the importance of saving the environment.

The district Congress functionaries also conducted a plantation drive at various pockets of the steel city.

Kerala Samajam Model School also celebrated the occasion by sowing saplings at the school campus. Social outfit Marwari Zila Sammelan, city unit of Ananda Marg and Parsudih Bazaar Samity also celebrated the occasion with a pledge to protect the environment.

In Chakulia block of East Singhbhum, Padma Shri awardee Jamuna Tudu, also known as Lady Tarzan for the ferocity with she fights the timber mafia, led few members of Van Suraksha Samity to plant saplings at a jungle near her village in Maturkham. “Human life can be saved with jungle conservation only,” she said.

The occasion was also kept low-profile at Dalma wildlife sanctuary. Saplings were handed over to village heads for sowing in their respective areas. “There was no reason for gathering in this difficult situation. We handed over five saplings each to as many village heads,” a forester said.