With the Dalma wildlife sanctuary closed due to coronavirus pandemic, schoolchildren will miss Friday’s World Environment Day event, which has been reduced to a low-key affair.

Unlike previous years when at least 600 people, including students, guests, foresters and mukhias would flock to the function, this year’s event will witness a much lower audience.

The essay competition involving children of government schools will not take place, as the authorities plan to keep the event simple.

The sanctuary, 30 km from Jamshedpur, is closed for visitors since March due to the nationwide lockdown.

The event is scheduled to take place at the Pinderbera forest guest house grounds.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Ichagarh MLA Sabita Mahto will be chief guest. Dalma divisional forest officer CMP Sinha and his Seraikela-Kharsawan counterpart Aditya Narayan along with other foresters will also be present.

The guests will plant peepal, banyan and mango saplings, procured from a nursery in Telco, Jamshedpur.

“We invite students of five government schools every year but this year they will miss the event. Only 40-45 people, including the guests, have been invited. The lockdown has reduced the event to a formality,” said Dalma range officer (West) Dinesh Chandra.

Dalma authorities are awaiting instructions from the government for reopening the 192 sq km sanctuary, which has already had a loss of revenue in the peak tourist season.