DIBRUGARH, June 6 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday urged the people of the State to pledge to plant one crore trees every year, as Assam�s contribution to the global greening effort.
Speaking at the State-level Environment Day function here at the Dibrugarh University campus, he said that the Government would also earmark areas in each village for plantation of saplings to give the people of the area an opportunity to plant saplings on special days of the family and to shape their future in sync with the nature.
He said that the present Government after coming to power has stressed on a pollution-free environment as the it is keen to tag it as a people�s programme. In consonance with the abundance of natural resources of the North-east, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to make the region an organic hub. Sonowal also called upon everybody to take steps to transform the region into an epicentre of organic practices.
Emphasising that Assam has the reputation of being naturally very beautiful, the Chief Minister professed that everybody in the State should contribute to make the State more beautiful and allure more and more tourists to come to Assam to enjoy its exotic beauty. The environment along both the Barak and the Brahmaputra should be protected and the people of both the valleys should be engaged in enhancing the beauty of the nature.
Earlier, Sonowal led the State in a plantation drive and planted saplings in the varsity campus and also distributed saplings among the students. Environment and Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, was among the others who attended the function, organised by the Forest Department.
In Goalpara: The World Environment Day was organised by the Assam Science Society (ASS), Goalpara branch in association with the Goalpara College at the college auditorium on June 5.
The day-long programme got off to an auspicious start with the plantation of saplings by the president of governing body of Goalpara College BK Nath, Goalpara College principal (incharge) Jyotish Das and president, ASS, Goalpara Dr SN Sharma who were joined by a large number of students from the college, Sankardev Sishu Niketan and Alfred Nobel Junior College.
Addressing the open session , the chief guest Circle Officer, Balijana Banti Talukdar stressed on the need to act locally and think globally in order to conserve the environment and properly utilise the resources available to protect the environment.
Guest of honour DFO Aishwarya Goswami stressed on the need to promote synergy between various stakeholders in order to conserve and protect the environment and rich biodiversity. The president ASS, Goalpara Dr SN Sharma stressed the need to conserve the natural habitat of the exquisite capped langur in Sree Surya Pahar and its adjoining areas and the wetland Urpod beel. He demanded that both these areas should be protected as reserve forest and bird sanctuary respectively. The Goalpara College principal in his short presidential address elaborated on the theme �Connecting people with nature� and stressed the need to carry out tree plantation continuously in order to conserve and protect the environment.
In Haflong: At Haflong , the Chanakya Junior College and Chanakya Welfare Society jointly observed the World Environment Day by planting of saplings by the students, teachers and representatives of management in and around the college campus. The Hmar Students Association (HSA) observed the day by launching cleanliness drive at Haflong Civil Hospital and plantation of saplings at New Haflong Railway station and at Haflong Civil Hospital campus by hundreds of members of HSA.
The Dima Hasao Forest department observed the day by organising free distribution of seedlings at Haflong Boys H S School. At N Leikul, some 10 km from Haflong, the day was observed by planting of seedlings and organising seminars etc., which was supported by Dima Hasao Forest and Tour AD
In Biswanath Chariali: The World Environment Day was observed by several organisations in Biswanath district, too, along with the rest of the country with various programmes including plantation, competitions among students and awareness meets. The Pabhoi unit of AASU observed the day in Dirringpathar High School while Biswanath AJYCP observed it with plantation at Lehugaon, Nabapur, Nagaon etc. Biswanath Sanmilita Yuva Mancha observed the day in Chariali Adarsha Vidyapith with competitions and meetings. Biswanath MLA Pramod Borthakur, Biswanath Circle Officer Biswajit Saikia, tree planter Kumud Baruah and others were present on the occasion. Nasbar-based TK Engineering Consortium Private Limited engaged in the four-laning process of NH 15, also planted 500 saplings on the occasion in association with National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation. 5 Assam Battalion NCC conducted various rallies, lectures and sapling plantations at various places in its AOR with rallies at Tezpur in Sonitpur district and Mangaldai in Darrang district, sapling plantation along with 24 Assam Rifles at Lokra, lecture on environmental issues and sapling plantation at Biswanath Chariali and Narayanpur in Lakhimpur district. The day was also observed in Biswanath College in which 300 saplings were planted at the college premises. Several programmes were also organised in Chatiya Academy including plantation and meeting.
In Morigaon: The World Environment Day was observed at Morigaon district with enthusiasm by several organisations. The �Anti-Global Warming Society� � a nature loving organisation of the district organised a poster competition among the school students. The Society distributed more than 1000 plants among the students. The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Morigaon district unit in collaboration with the Jibon Jeuti Krisak Sangha organised the day along the bank of the historic Charon Beel. More than 1000 saplings of different trees were planted along the banks of the beel. Every student of Ouzari village also took the responsibility to protect every tree in their village.
Our Staff Reporter adds: As part of its World Environment Day celebrations and continuing with its Clean Jakhalabandha Green Jakhalabandha Mission, the Kaliabor subdivisional administration launched a Community Waste Assimilator on Monday. The Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Samsher Singh inaugurated the project.
�The community waste assimilator will be effective in scientifically treating both soild and liquid municipal waste,� Kaliabor SDO (Civil) Pankaj Chakravarty said.
For generating mass awareness on maintaining a clean and hygienic environment, the administration involved NGOs, schools and traders� bodies in the Environment Day celebrations.
Chakravarty said that waste assimilators had already been distributed to 492 households in the area for treatment of their daily household waste.
Minister for Science and Technology Keshab Mahanta also inaugurated the Jakhalabandha Market Complex on the occasion.
Another highlight of the day�s programmes was the art exhibition � �Bator Canvas� � by the highway side which was participated by 50 artistes from across the State and led by noted artiste Nani Barpujari. A mass procession and a drawing competition among children also saw wide participation.
