Ballari: Religious and political leaders, government officers and teachers joined more than 6,000 students to make a historic city in southern India clean and green.

Catholic schools in Ballari organized the campaign in collaboration with the local district administration, Forest Department and Education Department.

Ballari, previous known as Bellary, is a prominent city in Karnataka state. It is some 310 km north of Bangalore, the state capital.

Organizers said they launched the mega campaign inspired by Pope Francis’ call to make “World Our Common Home’’ and the Narendra Modi regime’s campaign for Swachcha Bharat or Clean India.

Karnataka’s Forests and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai opened the campaign and underlined the need for promoting social amity and environmental protection, reports daijiworld.com.

He lauded the Ballari initiative to encourage thousands of school children to join the campaign for clean-green cities.

“The campaign should not be restricted to Ballari only. It should spread to entire Karnataka state and the country,’’ the minister said.

Bishop Henry D’Souza of Bellary, in his welcome address drew the attention of the gathering to the call given by the Pope to protect our common home and to promote clean-green environment.

He commended the schools and students for participating in the poster making, slogan writing, quizzing and planting of over 2,000 saplings.

The bishop also urged all religious leaders and officials to rise to the challenge of “bequeathing a cleaner, greener and healthier world to the next generation”.

Bellary is among several dioceses in India that has devised various plans to address the environmental challenges after papal document “Laudato Si” was released.

The Pope also states that environmental protection is a moral value. If we do not protect and care for our environment, it is a “sin” and as humans, we are stewards of God’s earth and share a responsibility to help each other, the Bishop said quoting the papal document.

Swami Sri Jaya Basava and Sri Khazi Ghouse Siddiqi appreciated the initiative and assured cooperation in spreading the movement to all sections of society.

Vinay Luthra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr Ravi Ralf, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life), Sameer Shukla, Ballari Deputy Commissioner, Thakhat Singh Ranavath, Deputy Conservator of Forests, DDPI and many church leaders, heads of institutions and political leaders attended the program.

Bellary Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla led the pledge to all the participants.