GUWAHATI, May 8 � The Kamrup Metro district administration will undertake a massive plantation drive during the forthcoming monsoon season in which over 20 lakh saplings will be planted across the Greater Guwahati region.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will formally inaugurate the plantation programme on May 24 at the Rani Reserve Forest.
A meeting was held in this regard at the Conference Hall of the Kamrup Metro DC�s office here today to discuss various aspects related to the drive.
The State government and the district administration is looking to rope in both private corporate houses and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), besides NGOs, educational institutions and the civil society in the exercise.
Today�s meeting was attended by senior officials from the district administration, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Commissioner, DRDA Project Director, Inspector of Schools of Kamrup Metro, DFO of Social Forestry, Conservator of Forest of central Assam Circle, Divisional Officer of Soil Conservation, and representatives of various corporate houses and PSUs including IOC, Oil India Pipe Line HQ, NRL, Assam Gramin Vikash Bank, various NGOs, schools and educational institutions and others.
The participants exchanged views and ideas regarding the programme, including plantation, maintenance and protection of saplings and trees.
Speaking on the occasion, Kamrup Metro Deputy Commissioner Dr M Angamuthu said that the responsibility to protect trees, the green cover and hillocks of the city for the safety of our future generation is a collective one.
�Plantation of saplings is a simple task. It can be done by the district administration or the Forest department alone. But the maintenance as well as protection of the saplings till they attain a definite height is a difficult task. In this respect we have to work collectively,� said Dr Angamuthu.
The DC sought the cooperation from PSUs and also the private sector for maintenance and protection of trees which will be planted under this programme.
During the coming rainy season, 106 hectares of land, including notified reserve forests in the Greater Guwahati area will be covered under this plantation programme and 20 lakh saplings will be planted.
Angamuthu said that the localities which are to be covered by the programme has been grouped under two, five and ten hectare units and the PSUs and private corporate houses will be able to choose any one of them for maintenance and protection till next five years or till the time the saplings attain a minimum height.
