People encouraged to plant more trees to create greener environment
GUWAHATI, June 6 - Various programmes including distribution of seeds, planting of saplings, art and essay writing and other competitions were held to create awareness among the people on the importance of saving the environment on the occasion of World Environment Day which was observed across the state on June 5.
NAGAON: All forest ranges including Sadar, Kampur, Kothiatoli and Dharamtul under the Nagaon Forest Division, as well as various organisations, schools and colleges of the district observed World Environment Day with a variety of programmes.
Nagaon DFO Rajen Chaudhury, while taking part in the programmes at Kothiatoli and Kampur, urged students to plant more trees and save the environment from pollution. The Nagaon Sadar range office led by Ranger Jayanta Kumar Goswami distributed saplings and encouraged people to create a greener environment. The range conducted a green drive at two educational institutions, Nowgong Polytechnic and Barhampur Swahid Adarsha Girls� High School.
The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad launched a month-long agenda of planting of trees. Lahar, a cultural unit of Bebejia Gushainbori, planted hundreds of trees in a one-km area on both sides of the newly renovated Nagaon-Morigaon state highway. Prayash, an NGO of Nagaon Fouzdaripatty, distributed bags made of cloth and appealed to the public to use them while shopping.
DIPHU: Government officials, public, members of social organisations and students planted trees to mark World Environment Day. At Saint Thomas English High School, children planted saplings and held banners encouraging elders of the locality to save the environment. Rev. Justin Kurian asked students to work collectively for the protection of the Earth. At Howraghat, a large number of trees were planted by the Netaji Welfare Society.
DERGAON: World Environment Day was observed under the aegis of the Science and Technology department, Government of Assam, in association with 10 other organisations at DR College. The programme started with a community run flagged off by Golaghat SP Pushparaj Singh. Hundreds of students and members of different organisations participated in the run. It was followed by plantation of saplings in the college campus which was initiated by ADC Sushama Hazarika.
An open meeting was attended by Ministers Atul Bora and Keshab Mahanta, noted botanist Dr Padmeswar Gogoi, Director of Science and Technology department Dr Arup Kumar Mishra, Secretary Hemen Das, Golaghat Zila Parishad CEO Abhijit Barua, ADC Sushama Hazarika, and Assam Science, Technology and Environment Council�s (ASTEC) head of Environment Division Dr Jaydeep Barua.
The quarterly magazine of the Science and Technology department Synthesis was released by Minister Keshab Mahanta. Cheques of financial assistance of Rs 2.65 lakh from the Science and Technology department were given to 19 high and Higher Secondary schools of the state, including the lone school from Golaghat district Dusutimukh High School.
The day was also observed by Aashray, an NGO working for environment conservation, in collaboration with Kakila-Karati Seuj Sangha of Dusutimukh High School. The programme started with plantation of saplings by Rina Doley, president of the school managing and development committee and teacher Anjali Deka. It was followed by an open meeting where retired headmaster of Dergaon Town High School Maniram Bora spoke on �Our role to beat air pollution�. A documentary on biodiversity of Assam was screened by Mondip Ranjan Khound, block programme manager of Missamara Primary Health Centre.
CHEPNA: The All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) organised World Environment Day at the Manas Tiger Reserve near Chepna NC in Baksa district. The programme was organised in association with Manas Maozigendri Eco-Tourism Society (MMETC) and the State forest department.
More than 10,000 fruit saplings were planted by wildlife activists, government officials, students and villagers. The event titled �Pakhiram Plantation Programme� was organised to sensitise the people about a healthy environment. More than 1,000 villagers participated in the plantation programme near the India-Bhutan border.
ABSU general secretary Lawrence Islary, ABSU advisor Maneswar Daimari and ABSU president Pramod Boro spoke on the occasion. �Our nature was so clean before the new civilisation started. We have destroyed so many things to build a few things for the so-called modern civilization. It is important to preserve our environment and work hard to return it to its original state. We talk of our rights, but never talk about the rights of the environment,� Boro said.
The ceremony was addressed by retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Bikash Brahma, Citta Ranjan Bhobora, retired conservator of forests and at present working with WWT; Ritesh Bhattacharya, retired conservator of forests; Dharanidhar Boro, OSD, Manas National Park, and honorary Wildlife Warden Jayanta Kumar Das. BTC MCLA Anip Basumatari from Chapajuri, Raghunath Boro, deputy field director at Manas National Park, and career counsellor Ranjan Barua also attended the programme.
DOOMDOOMA: Noa-Dihing Foundation, an NGO, organised an inter-school mini marathon titled Green Day Run in Doomdooma to create awareness on the conservation of environment. The marathon was inaugurated by Hoonlal HS School principal Seema Choudhury. Over 200 students from various institutions of Doomdooma participated in the marathon. Later, Seema Choudhury, journalist Abhijit Khataniar, Rupai High School�s retired teacher Buddheswar Sonowal, Modern Academy School sports teacher Anil Bora and the NGO�s general secretary Hrishikesh Baruah distributed the prizes.
Saplings were also planted at Hoonlal HS School. Principal Seema Choudhury and many teachers addressed the students on this occasion. Ranjit Bikash Chetia, a former student of the school and an assistant teacher of GB Chowkhani HS School in Makum came to Doomdooma from Tinsukia riding a bicycle to create awareness on air pollution caused by the large-scale use of fossil fuel. He brought two saplings with him and handed them over to the principal, who in return also gave him two saplings which he would plant in the campus of the school where he works � thus promoting the culture of �green exchange�.
NSS volunteers of Doomdooma College and Digboi College planted saplings in the college campuses and also conducted cleanliness drives.
KOKRAJHAR: The Kokrajhar Soil Conservation Division observed the day at Uttar Patgaon, where Soil Conservation Minister Pramila Rani Brahma planted saplings along with villagers.
The Haltugaon Forest Division along with the 135 Bn Eco Task Force and District Legal Service, Kokrajhar carried out a plantation drive at Dharampur village.
Commanding Officer of 135 Bn Eco Task Force K Sarkar, SSB Commanding Officer Jeetendra Gupta, Secretary of Legal Service Authority, Kokrajhar B Medhi, Haltugaon DFO Prabat Kumar Brahma participated in the programme. The forest department and the Legal Service Authority decided to adopt Dharampur to make it a �green village�.
The Kokrajhar district administration planted saplings along JD Road near the Bodoland War Cemetery in Kokrajhar. ADCs Debesar Bora, Pranjal Das, Assistant Commissioner Sailen Das participated in the programme.
A massive plantation programme was organised in Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary in Kokrajhar. BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyari, who is in charge of the forest department of BTC, joined the plantation programme with APSC member PK Hazoary, and MK Sharma, DFO, Wildlife & SF Division, Kokrajhar. More than 60,000 saplings were distributed by the forest department.
BARPETA: Plantation drives, distribution of saplings, competitions and seminars were organised in Barpeta district. Gangaram Barman Foundation, Kaihati, organised a programme at Sarukshetri Junior College, Barkapala in Barpeta district in association with Dainik Asam, Prerana Puthibharal, Forest Beat Office, Solmara, Deka Paper Agency, Sarthebari, Manohardev High School and Barkapala Nabamukti Sangha.
Addressing the meeting, Dr Madhurjyamandit Baruah, head of the Assamese department of Krishnaguru Adhyatmik Viswabidyalay, Nasatra, urged the people to help preserve the Earth. Ranjit Hazarika and Girin Deka of the editorial department of Dainik Asam urged the parents to teach their children that harming the Earth was a sin.
NGO Medini observed the day in Panchagram Pragati Samuhik Kendra, Baniyakuchi, in Barpeta district. Thousands of saplings were distributed among the people. Swachha Barpeta Got organised several programmes for children at the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Park in Barpeta.
DHEMAJI: Community plantation, marathon and environmental campaigns were held in Dhemaji, Silapathar and Jonai areas of Dhemaji district.
The Dhemaji District Journalists� Association in collaboration with the Mising Autonomous Council and Maihang Restaurant Group of Kulajan (Silapathar) launched a month-long plantation drive along the 10-km highway from Kulajan Tinali at Silapathar to Bogibeel Bridge on the north bank of the Brahmaputra.
Launching the drive at Kulajan, MAC executive councillor Johan Doley urged the people to nurture saplings as their own property and protect them from stray animals.
Journalists Ashini Duwarah and Dilip Hazarika requested the MAC to initiate protection measures for the planted saplings and beautify the highway portion. Around 200 saplings of various kinds were planted along the highway on the day.
In Jonai, he All Assam Students� Union organised plantation drives in schools and roadsides. It also conducted a marathon and a talk on environmental issues, and urged the people to protect the forest cover in Poba Reserve Forest, located on the outskirts of Jonai town.
NGO Rural Volunteers Centre organised a plantation drive along riverbank areas of Berachapori. It also conducted an advocacy programme on �Ensuring rights of flood and erosion-affected people of Brahmaputra basin in Dhemaji district� at Bera Milan village. The forest department of Dhemaji distributed more than 5,000 saplings among school children, NGOs, and the public.
HAFLONG: With the theme �Beat Air Pollution�, World Environment Day was observed throughout Dima Hasao district. Several NGOs, schools, colleges and government institutions held meetings, cleanliness drives, plantations and also distributed free saplings.
Debolal Gorlosa, chief executive member of the NC Hills Autonomous Council, asked people to be responsible to protect the Earth. At Umrangso, PHE Executive Engineer N Sarma said there was a total ban on burning of waste leading to air pollution. At Hatikhali, Langting, Maibang, the forest department officials planted trees and also distributed saplings to the public.
