Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday (June 5) called for making environmental conservation a way of life rather than a one-day observance, warning that unchecked ecological degradation could threaten the very survival of life on earth.Participating in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ plantation programme organised at Chikkajogihalli village in Kudligi taluk, Vijayanagara, on the occasion of World Environment Day, Ms. Sitharaman said the prosperity of humanity depended on preserving nature, wildlife and greenery.“If nature turns hostile, the entire ecosystem will be endangered and the earth could gradually turn into a desert. Planting and nurturing trees should become an integral part of our daily lives,” she said.The Minister said the environmental consciousness displayed by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who regularly plants saplings, should inspire citizens across the country. She also stressed the need to attract younger generations back to agriculture through multi-cropping systems and technology-driven farming practices to strengthen rural economies.Referring to the Miyawaki forest model developed in Kutch by environmentalist R.K. Nair in memory of children who lost their lives in the Gujarat earthquake, Ms. Sitharaman said a similar scientific afforestation initiative was being undertaken at Chikkajogihalli with climate-suitable species. The project, she said, would develop into a dense forest within a short period and stand as a lasting tribute to mothers for decades.She directed the district administration to install stone plaques bearing the names of children who plant saplings so that future generations could remain connected to the initiative.The Minister also lauded ongoing water conservation efforts in Kudligi taluk aimed at rejuvenating water bodies and improving groundwater levels. She praised local farmers who had voluntarily offered their land for the green initiative and commended former Deputy Commissioner Anirudh Sravan and incumbent Deputy Commissioner Kavitha S. Mannikeri for their role in promoting developmental and environmental projects in the region.N.T. Srinivas, MLA, said work had already begun to develop a 300-acre Miyawaki forest in Chikkajogihalli under the guidance of the Finance Minister and that there were plans to expand it to 1,000 acres. He also announced that a Krishi Vigyan Kendra had been sanctioned for the taluk, with 50 acres earmarked near Kudligi, while a tamarind processing unit, a Karnataka Public School and a post-matric hostel for Scheduled Tribe girls had also been approved.Mr. Nair said the afforestation initiative formed part of the Prime Minister’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and was being implemented through Bharat Vanam’s Vertical Organic Horticulture Project. The programme aims to plant one lakh fruit-bearing saplings in phases across the taluk.He said the first phase had commenced with the planting of 15,000 saplings on 40 acres, with a target of planting 50,000 saplings by the end of the year and another 50,000 next year. Around 1,000 schoolchildren participated in the plantation drive.Mr. Nair said the project integrates Japanese technology and multi-cropping practices, with nine varieties of grafted fruit plants being cultivated scientifically. The ₹3-crore initiative, funded through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions, includes fencing, land preparation and maintenance for five years. Farmers would not be required to contribute financially and would retain the entire income generated from the fruit harvest, he added.Earlier in the day, Ms. Sitharaman laid the foundation stone for a district cultural centre to be constructed at a cost of ₹5 crore behind the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Hosapete. The project is being funded from the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme and implemented by the Vijayanagara Nirmithi Kendra. She also inaugurated work on a ₹99-lakh park to be developed on the campus with CSR support from the State Bank of India.The proposed cultural complex, inspired by the architectural heritage of Hampi and the Vijayanagara Empire, will feature a 500-seat auditorium, a mini theatre, rehearsal halls, green rooms, artists’ accommodation and recording studios. It is expected to become a major hub for cultural and artistic activities in the district.Among those present were E. Tukaram, Ballari MP, H.R. Gaviyappa, MLA, Anirudh Sravan, now private secretary to the Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, Deputy Commissioner Kavitha S. Mannikeri, Superintendent of Police S. Jahnavi, Zilla Panchayat CEO Nongjai Mohammad Ali Akram Shah, SBI Chief General Manager Joohi Smita Sinha, and senior district officials.