NEW DELHI: The green cause has a new ambassador. President of India Ram Nath Kovind , in his maiden year of presidency, has undertaken a green initiative that has freed the Rashtrapati Bhawan offices of plastic bottles From July 25, when President Kovind completed one year in office, the Rashtrapati Bhawan offices have switched to using monogrammed glass bottles Glass bottles replaced plastic inside all offices housed inside the Rashtrapati Bhawan, and the transition from plastic to glass has also been made for state functions and guests hosted by the President of India, in his office.On an average, about 1,200 one litre bottles, and 240 half litre bottles were consumed in the Rashtrapati Bhawan offices every month. Since July 25, when the transition to glass bottles was made, the President House has stopped the purchase of plastic bottles.The President's environment friendly initiative also includes a massive plantation drive not just across the Rashtrapati Bhawan Estate on Raisina Hill, but also in the Rashtrapati Nilayam , the erstwhile Residency House, the President's quarters, in Hyderabad.The expansive Mughal Gardens, which have delighted tourists with their winter blooms now have company. An intesive plantation drive undertaken on the Rashtrapati Bhawan in July this year saw over 1,600 trees and shrubs being planted, of which about 240 are fruitbearing trees.The Rashtrapati's Hyderabad residence has similarly set out on a massive, three-yearlong greening drive. At present, only 40% of the 97 acres of Rashtrapati Nilayam are under a green cover. With President Kovind's push, the forest department of the Telangana government will take up 10.5 acres of barren land inside the Presidential Estate for soil management, moisture conservation and greening. Bearing in mind the terrain and weather conditions, the greening drive in Rashtrapati Nilayam will be developed in nine patches, with varieties of bamboo and miletonia among the trees that will be planted.