GUWAHATI, June 5 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, on the occasion of World Environment Day, called upon the people of Assam to take a pledge to devote time for nature and work to preserve the ecology and increase the green cover of the State.
Participating in the World Environment Day celebration at Chakardo in Rani today, where the day was observed in a very restrained manner amid Covid-19 pandemic, Sonowal planted a sapling to inaugurate a plantation drive in the area along with Forest and Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya.
Underlining the importance of maintaining the sanctity of the nature as the aberration of it might prove detrimental to the ecological balance and the very survival of humanity, Sonowal said that during Covid-19 pandemic, the State government has decided to plant 1.5 crore saplings throughout the State and the process would complete in the month of July this year.
Synchronising with the occasion, the Chief Minister presented saplings to the journalists and asked them to work as force multiplier for green and clean Assam.
Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, Chief Minister�s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami, Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment Avinash Joshi, PCCF AM Singh and several senior officers of the government were present on the occasion.
Earlier, Sonowal also planted saplings at this official residence.
Meanwhile, Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi, highlighting the need for generating awareness, planted saplings and ceremoniously inaugurated �Hariyali� on World Environment Day at Chirang today.
He launched project �Hariyali� at HQ of 15 Btln SSB, Kajal gaon in Chirang district with a block plantation of 1,500 saplings by SSB jawans. Altogether about one lakh saplings have been planted by various agencies across the four BTC districts by various residents, institutions and government agencies.�The current green cover of BTAD is about 36.5 percent which is sought to be enhanced. Various varieties of plants�species, like jamun, aam, jalphai, leteku and ornamental species like krishnachura, radhachura, jacaranda, sonaru were�planted.
About 40 lakhs plants, including flowering, fruiting, medicinal and other plant varieties are to be planted in the BTAD areas within August.
As a part of the above initiative, 10 lakh saplings will be planted in each of the four BTAD districts � Udalguri, Baksa, Kokrajhar and Chirang.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Mukhi said, �We are at the moment standing at the crossroads of urbanization and environmental degradation. However, since urbanization and its fallout of economic development have to go hand in hand, we need to devise a strategy of development in sync with the ecology. No society can go towards advancement without a balanced ecology.�
The Governor said that the�Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) with about 189 forest villages is strategically poised to contribute to the cause of environment. �Though the three protected areas � Manas National Park, Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary � have the potential to sustain wide varieties of flora and fauna, we have to work assiduously for the protection of environment and our natural legacy of rich biodiversity,� he said.
