Keep public places clean, Kalam’s New Year pledge

Mangalore Today

New Delhi, Dec.31: "Let us all resolve to keep the public places clean, neat and tidy." This is the pledge former President A P J Abdul Kalam wants every Indian citizens to take on the New Year day.

In a New Year message, Kalam said every citizen should undertake plantation of one to three fruit-bearing trees which will lead to creation of at least "one billion trees for one billion people" at the end of 2010.

"This will lead to absorption of 20 billion kg of carbon dioxide and release 14 billion kg of oxygen annually in few years time," he said.

The former President also said at least 100 PURA (Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas) complexes should be set up in Bihar, Orissa, north-eastern states, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

"Let us start this New Year 2010 as a decade of hope for the youth to realise the vision of the nation and make India the best place to live."