Airports Authority of India plants trees under `Clean India Mission'

New Delhi, July 29 (ANI): Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Chairman of Airports Authority of India Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra yesterday planted tree saplings at Indian Aviation Academy campus in New Delhi as part of `Clean India Mission'. The Airports Authority of India has taken the initiative to plant saplings at its facilities across the country as part of the 15-day-drive. The Minister appreciated the move and called it a social responsibility towards protecting the environment. "`Swacch Bharat' means a clean country for us. This is our country. We want it clean and beautiful and we want our problems to be reduced. Aviation is a highly polluting activity so we need to have an added attention as how we can bring down our carbon footprint," said Raju. The Airports Authority of India has been conferred the National Award for Best Performing Central PSU for Roof Top Solar Power initiative this year. AAI, which manages 115 airports in the country, has been successful in complying with the commitment made for Solar Roof Top by installing 4.8 MWp roof top solar plants at 13 airports. "AAI is very socially committed to the environment. So most of the new buildings that we construct are designed and constructed so that they become green building. We are also taking solar energy in a very big way and trying to build as much solar facility in most of our establishments. So, there are series of activities that we are doing toward that," said chairman of Airports Authority of India. Tree plantation drive is one among several initiatives taken by Airports Authority of India to protect environment. (ANI)