Anand Mahindra lauded Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' efforts towards tree plantation
Mumbai:
Industrialist Anand Mahindra criticised US President Donald Trump for pulling out of the Paris Climate deal, saying he does not understand the loss it's going to cause.
Mr. Mahindra was speaking at an event to mark the plantation of the 13 millionth tree under the Mahindra Haryali scheme, which started in 2007 with the aim of planting a million trees every year.
Lauding the Maharashtra Chief Minister's efforts towards tree plantation, Mr Mahindra compared him to France's President Emmanuel Macron. "Macron, after coming to power, had said 'It's not about making France great again but making the planet great again.' I think you (Devendra Fadnavis) are from the breed of people who believe that. That's why you are here!" he said.
Hitting out at Trump, he said, "They (Americans) have forgotten that the country wants leaders with vision, people with good intent."
"We've forgotten that our survival depends on maintaining that very fragile and fine ecological balance that allows us to enjoy further growth. At Mahindra we haven't forgotten that," Mr. Mahindra said.
"President Trump thinks what he is doing is in his country's interest. He thinks he is saving US companies. He thinks he is saving costs for them. He is getting claps for that but they are forgetting that may be some American companies will benefit but it will have disastrous consequences for the country," he added.
Stressing on importance to plant trees, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, "We have experienced drought and that is man-made. We will plant four crore trees this year. Next year we will target 13 crores and complete the target in three years. A country like Germany has a one third forest cover. We have 21% forest cover in Maharashtra and in five years we want to take that to 33%."
Mr. Mahindra was speaking at an event to mark the plantation of the 13 millionth tree under the Mahindra Haryali scheme, which started in 2007 with the aim of planting a million trees every year.
Lauding the Maharashtra Chief Minister's efforts towards tree plantation, Mr Mahindra compared him to France's President Emmanuel Macron. "Macron, after coming to power, had said 'It's not about making France great again but making the planet great again.' I think you (Devendra Fadnavis) are from the breed of people who believe that. That's why you are here!" he said.
Hitting out at Trump, he said, "They (Americans) have forgotten that the country wants leaders with vision, people with good intent."
"We've forgotten that our survival depends on maintaining that very fragile and fine ecological balance that allows us to enjoy further growth. At Mahindra we haven't forgotten that," Mr. Mahindra said.
"President Trump thinks what he is doing is in his country's interest. He thinks he is saving US companies. He thinks he is saving costs for them. He is getting claps for that but they are forgetting that may be some American companies will benefit but it will have disastrous consequences for the country," he added.
Stressing on importance to plant trees, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, "We have experienced drought and that is man-made. We will plant four crore trees this year. Next year we will target 13 crores and complete the target in three years. A country like Germany has a one third forest cover. We have 21% forest cover in Maharashtra and in five years we want to take that to 33%."
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
