IMPHAL, July 24 � In a move to check frequent landslides on highways in Manipur which are the lifelines of the land-locked State, Senapati district-based student community has taken up a noble green initiative to protect the route in the recent past.
�We�ve began to plant Hullock and Gulmohor trees on the sides of the highway besides entrusting every shop keepers or business fraternity (along the highway) to adopt a plant or tree,� said president Pungdi P Celestine of Maram Students� Union (MKS). �This was taken up in view of the frequent landslide at Maram area.�
Maram, a small hill station dominated by the Maram community which is located about 80 km north of Imphal in Manipur�s Senapati district, has been witnessing landslide every year during rainy season forcing to seal the supplies to the state off and on.
The Maram student fraternity taken up their steps based on the traditional knowledge of planting the Hullock and Gulmohor tree species to help the degradation of the hilly terrain besides beautifying the highway and market places as well, MKS president felt.
The student team as part of its three-day environmental interface-cum-tree plantation under �Go Green Mission� which concluded on Monday, planted nearly about 700-800 Hullock and Gulmohor varieties (out of about 2700 saplings) in and around the landslide-prone Maram Centre-Maram Bazar sector of the NH 2.
The plantation activities have been taken up since July 20 at the Senapati district headquarter, 60 km north of Imphal in collaboration with the Deputy Commissioner PK Jha and other district administration officials.
The Mission 2012 of MKS which aims to augment the fallen trees in barren land as they are planting as many as 2700 sapling including around 1000 Yongchak (stink or tree bean) trees which is Manipur�s favourite delicacy, this year since 2009.
The first day of the mission saw plantation of saplings at the district headquarters among students of Mount Carmel Academy and Saklim Christian English School Students followed by plantation at market places of Lairouching, Maram Centre-Sagongbam, Maram Bazar and environmental interface with PP Christian English School. The programme culminated with similar plantation activities along Maram-Peren Road, Sangkungmei and St Vincent School, Willong.
