KARIMNAGARTransport and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has emphasised the need for espousing the cause of environmental protection through collective endeavour and impactful action.He was addressing a gathering after planting saplings at Deer Park near the Lower Manair Dam (LMD) in Karimnagar on the occasion of World Environment Day on Friday.Mr. Prabhakar said an ambitious “Steel Bank” initiative was successfully implemented in Husnabad Assembly constituency as part of efforts to combat plastic pollution.Kits containing steel utensils having around 70,000 steel plates were distributed to 280 women SHGs in the constituency as part of the eco-friendly initiative.He said the sapling plantation drive should be taken up as a social movement by focusing on avenue plantation to increase tree cover. Fruit bearing plants such as guava and drumstick be planted on a massive scale in residential colonies like Indiramma housing colonies, he suggested.Karimnagar Collector Chitra Mishra, and Police Commissioner Gaush Alam were also present. Published - June 06, 2026 07:18 pm IST