by Sanjay Dutta
Manali: Governor Acharya Devvrat and Lady Governor Darshana Devi picked up the broom and participated in the clean Manali campaign held at Nehru Chowk, here on Friday. Officials of the district administration, members of the Nagar Parishad, the auto and taxi union members and people at large joined the governor in the clean up campaign.
Speaking on the occasion the governor said it was essential to preserve the beauty of the hill state which was possible only with the involvement of all sections of the society. “Lakhs of tourists visit Himachal every year and in order to promote tourism, all towns, cities and tourist spots should be kept clean,” he said.
The governor also urged the youth to fight social evils like drug abuse and participate actively in cleanliness drive, tree plantations, rearing of cows and organic farming.
Pointing the problems with chemical farming Governor Acharya Devvrat said that s number of diseases had increased due to excessive use of chemicals in agriculture. “The best part of adopting natural system of farming was that it had no financial implication. For natural farming to work, farmers should be encouraged to rear domestic cow instead of hybrid ones imported from abroad, he said while citing the example of Sikkim which had adopted zero budgeting natural farming and was getting good results.
The governor also visited Rohtang Pass, spent sometime at Rani Nalah and Beas Kund, where he interacted with locals and tourists. He also visited Marhi Mini Hydel Project. 
Renuka Gautam
Hill Post correspondent from Kullu adds :-
Kullu: Governor Acharya Devvrat, who is on a two day visit of the district, caught up with students here asking them to value their culture and focus on studies for their own bright future as well as that of the nation too.
During the visit he took time out to visit the nature park at Mohal and paid a visit to the district library at Dhalpur.
To the students at the library the governor said, “education with human values is real education because even higher qualifications is worthless without discipline and human values. Our centuries old traditions and culture is highly appreciable and respectable. All of us should proudly follow own culture which is a combination of quality education, discipline and moral values, Respect for culture would definitely lead to a prosperous and developed country.”
The governor at Manali also flagged off a mountain cycling expedition Divyang Yodha that is organized by Border Security Force (BSF). A team of 34 members which include 13 from BSF, 3 from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 18 from Aditya Mehta Foundation set out on a 583 Km long journey to Khardungala Pass in Ladhak where they are to be received by union minister of state home affairs, Kiren Rijiju on 15th August.
