On June 5, 2025, the Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) in New Delhi observed World Environment Day with Padma Shri awardee Shri Umashankar Pandey as the chief guest. The event included a tree plantation drive with participation from Defence Estates Department officials, staff, and school children, as well as discussions, exhibitions, and an awareness rally focused on environmental issues. Shri Pandey emphasized that environmental protection is a shared responsibility and advocated for grassroots efforts like water conservation and tree plantation. He also stressed the need for a National Water University, water libraries, and water museums. Director General Defence Estates Shri SN Gupta highlighted the department's environmental conservation efforts, including green zones, rainwater harvesting, waste management, and the planting of over 6.40 lakh trees under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative. The DGDE was also recognized for its water conservation efforts, receiving the Third Rank at the National Level in the Public Participation in Water Conservation Campaign. The event concluded with a pledge to protect the environment.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Defence: Government ministry, likely of India, overseeing defence matters.
Padma Shri: A civilian award, awarded by the Government of India.
Shri Umashankar Pandey: Padma Shri awardee and environmental activist. He graced the World Environment Day celebrations at DGDE.
World Environment Day: An annual event focused on environmental awareness and action.
DGDE: Directorate General Defence Estates; the location of the World Environment Day celebrations.
PIB Delhi: Press Information Bureau, Delhi - likely the source of the news release.
Directorate General Defence Estates: Full name of DGDE, the organization hosting the event.
New Delhi: Location of the World Environment Day celebration.
Defence Estates Department: Department whose officials participated in the tree plantation drive.
National Water University: Proposed University, idea submitted to the government by Shri Umashankar Pandey
Director General Defence Estates Shri SN Gupta: The head of the Defence Estates Department, who reiterated the importance of environmental conservation.
Prime Minister: Referring to the Prime Minister of India and his vision of a clean and green India.
Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: An initiative under which over 6.40 lakh trees have been planted by the Cantonment Boards.
Cantonment Boards: Organizations that have planted over 6.40 lakh trees under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative.
Government: Referring to the Government of India, which awarded the Directorate Third Rank at the National Level in the Public Participation in Water Conservation Campaign.
Public Participation in Water Conservation Campaign: A water conservation campaign where the Directorate was awarded Third Rank at the National Level.
Ministry of Defence
Padma Shri awardee Shri Umashankar Pandey
graces World Environment Day celebrations at
DGDE
Environment protection is not just Govt’s
responsibility, but a collective duty of all citizens,
says the noted environmental activist
Posted On: 05 JUN 2025 5:33PM by PIB Delhi
Noted environmental activist and Padma Shri awardee Shri Umashankar Pandey graced the World
Environment Day celebrations at the Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE) in New Delhi on
June 05, 2025. The programme commenced with a tree plantation drive in which senior officials of
the Defence Estates Department, staff members, and school children participated actively. It also
featured discussions on various environmental topics, exhibitions, and an awareness rally.
In his address, Shri Umashankar Pandey termed environment protection as not just the responsibility of the
government, but a collective duty of all citizens. Efforts like water conservation and tree plantation at the
grassroots level are the most significant contributions towards saving the planet, he said.
The Padma Shri awardee called upon all officials to take proactive steps towards environmental protection.
He emphasised the urgent need for establishing a National Water University and informed that he has already
submitted a proposal to the government for the same. He also highlighted the importance of setting up water
libraries and water museums across the country.
Director General Defence Estates Shri SN Gupta reiterated that environmental conservation is one of the top
priorities of the Defence Estates Department. He enumerated several innovative initiatives undertaken by the
department, including development of green zones, rainwater harvesting, and waste management.
Highlighting the department’s contribution to the Prime Minister's vision of a clean and green India, Shri
Gupta stated that under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, over 6.40 lakh trees have been planted by the
Cantonment Boards. He highlighted that the Directorate was awarded Third Rank at the National Level by the
Government in the Public Participation in Water Conservation Campaign, a testimony to its efforts in
underground water conservation.
The programme concluded with a collective pledge to protect the environment. All senior officials of the
department were present on the occasion.*****
SR/Savvy
(Release ID: 2134229)