HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 5: Assam governor prof. Jagdish Mukhi carried out a plantation drive at Raj Bhavan and led the state in celebrating the World Environment Day.
He on the occasion appealed to everybody to plant at least a single sapling in this month to increase the green coverage of the earth and make it more habitable for the future generation.
Speaking on the occasion Mukhi said, “Our existence is dependent on our environment. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the United Nations since 1972, used the World Environment Day to encourage awareness among all stakeholders and the public in general to champion the cause of the environment and garner political patronage coupled with public action for the sustainability and protection of our environment.”
The governor also said that to protect the planet from the menace of global warming we need to plant more trees which would motivate the young and students.
“Our beautiful planet has sustained us and fulfilled our needs in different ways. It is time for us now to work as a community and act responsibly to protect our environment from further degeneration,” he said.
Assam legislative assembly
The World Environment Day was also celebrated on the premises of Assam legislative assembly on Saturday.
Assam Legislative Assembly deputy speaker Nomal Momin, leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia and chairman of public accounts committee Wajed Ali Choudhury planted saplings of Nahor, Bokul, Arjun and Debodaru. Momin stressed on the prime agenda for celebration of the event which is saving the environment and keeping the ecosystem intact. He also pointed out the environmental disbalance caused due to urbanisation.
“Forests and wetlands must be preserved to maintain a healthy ecosystem,” he said.
Gauhati University
Gauhati University celebrated World Environment Day on June 5 along with the rest of the world. As a part of the programme, a webinar was organised by GU NSS Cell to mark the occasion on this year’s theme “Ecosystem Restoration”.
Inaugurating the webinar GU VC prof Pratap Jyoti Handique, in his speech called for ecosystem restoration and emphasised on this year’s slogan “Reimagine, Recreate & Restore”.
Handique also emphasised on planned and selective plantation programmes so that saplings that we grow every year are well maintained and also appeals for conservation of biodiversity.
Attending the programme as chief guest minister Ranjit Kumar Dass conveyed his wishes to all participants on this occasion. Dass in his speech described the great saint Srimanta Sankardeva as a great environmentalist in this world and quoted how Guru Sankardeva in his sermons had given the message of co-existence of mankind with the ecosystem and had asked his followers to respect all the forms of living beings including insects, creatures and other unmovable things on the earth. Dass also appreciated the GU NSS Cell for their commendable work in serving the cause of conserving the environment and also for their selfless community service during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kamrup DIET
District Education and Training Institute (DIET) organised a webinar on decentralised waste management and organic farming along with poster writing, photography competition and plantation drive on the occasion of World Environment Day.
The speaker of the webinar, Amarjyoti Kashyap laid stress on decentralised waste management and proper segregation at the household level. The use of plastic materials should be restricted and instead local made organic articles need to be promoted which was stressed in the webinar. Only sweeping doesn’t imply swachhata; rather it transfers waste from one place to another. Rather these wastes should be scientifically processed, recycled and must be converted into resources as recycled items, vermi-compost, etc., which can be applied itself for agricultural purposes. It will help in maintaining the ecological balance and contribute to the reduction in pollution level, the webinar stressed.
Burning of waste must be avoided at any means which was stressed by Kashyap, president of ENVIRON in the one-day virtual programme of World Environment Day. The programme was followed by a question answer session by the participants.
1st NDRF
On the occasion of the World Environment Day on June 5 personnel of 1st BN NDRF planted 1,000 tree saplings at different locations of Patgaon, Azara, Mirza (palashbari), Changsari ( Kamrup rural), etc.
NDRF teams are deployed in Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Cachar and Unakoti for responding upcoming monsoon season and teams located in regional response centres of 1st BN NDRF in Agartala (Tripura), Aizawl (Mizoram) also joined in this campaign at their respective areas.
During the campaign HPS Kandari, Commandant, 1st Battalion NDRF stated that “Tree plantation is very important for the community & this initiative will go a long way in inculcating awareness among the people about environment conservation.”
NF Railway
The World Environment Day-2021 was observed in a befitting manner in Northeast Frontier Railway on Saturday. Officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway also participated with their counterparts spreading throughout the nation to make the world we live in more sustainable for our future generations. The day started with a tree plantation drive at the Amingaon area adjacent to Guwahati city. General manager, Northeast Frontier Railway Anshul Gupta led other officials in planting saplings. Senior officials of the Northeast Frontier Railway’s open line and construction organisation also participated in this special plantation drive. A booklet containing information about various environment-friendly activities being undertaken by the Northeast Frontier Railway was also released by the general manager on the occasion.
Similar initiatives of tree plantation drive were also undertaken in all the five divisions of Northeast Frontier Railway where respective divisional railway managers led others in planting saplings. Later on, a virtual meeting was also held at the Northeast Frontier Railway HQ office which was addressed by the general manager and participated by senior officials from HQ and divisions.
Bamuni Pahar
Forest personnel from Nagaon forest division, on occasion of World Environment Day on Saturday conducted a massive tree plantation drive at Bamuni Pahar in Kandoli PPF to protect eco-friendly systems – flora and fauna for survival of bio diversities in the region.
During the drive, several hundred saplings of various local trees were planted. Local Barhampur MLA Jitu Goswami, in presence of additional principal chief conservator of forest, W Surya Narayan, inaugurated the drive at the PPF. Superintendent of police Anand Mishra, DFO, Nagaon forest division, Bosantham B, DFO, Nagaon wildlife division, Arun Vignesh and other officials from both forest divisions participated in the plantation drive.
Significantly, the mysterious lightning claimed a total of 18 wild elephants on May 12 last at the same Bamuni Pahar of Kandoli PPF where the forest department on Saturday conducted the massive plantation drive.
Similarly, on occasion of World Environment Day, the local MLA of Nagaon Sadar constituency, Rupak Sarma also participated in a massive plantation drive in the town and planted several hundred saplings of various kinds of trees near at Motiram Bora Girls’ School, Monalisa Hotel, Nagaon Kechaali, Nagaon Laokhuwa road and other places in the town.
Meanwhile, Nagaon Lions Club also conducted a massive tree plantation drive in the town as well as in its own orchard at the club campus. President of the Club Pralay Shaha, Biswajit Mahanta, Gurusharan Singh, Pranab Das, Hemanta Bordoloi initiated the drive on Saturday on occasion of World Environment Day, a release added.
Hojai
In synchronisation with the rest of the world, World Environment Day was observed in Hojai district as well. Several NGOs, individuals, government and non-government establishments planted hundreds of saplings. The members of Marwari Sammelan Hojai Unit planted twenty saplings at the campus of Gandhi Vidyapith High School and at the premises of Laxminarayan Temple. The volunteers of Geetaashram Trust along with Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Durga Vahini and Bajrang Dal planted 100 saplings at Bihutoli field, Goshala and Ashananda. The authorities of Sankardevnagar Junior College, KMK memorial college opted for virtual plantation drive thereby encouraging the student to recycle paper clothes which can help the environment in future. On the other hand the teachers in the school took active participation by inspiring the students to observe this day with the help of several environmental related activities.
Biswanath Chariali
Biswanath College celebrated World Environment Day with a series of programmes. The newly prepared ‘Herbal Garden’ of Biswanath College was formally inaugurated by Promod Borthakur, MLA of Biswanath constituency in presence of Kokil Hazarika, president of governing body and Dr Chinta Mani Sharma, principal of the college. A massive plantation programme was undertaken under the aegis of environment and climate cell of the college supported by Assam Science Technology and Environment Council where teachers, employees and office bearers of students’ union planted more than hundred saplings of valuable trees.
Namrup
Various organisations celebrated World Environment Day in Namrup on Saturday. On Saturday, during the celebration, leaders of AASU regional committee celebrated the day by planting saplings in various places of Namrup. Ashim Jyoti Phukan, general secretary of Namrup AASU, inaugurated the programme with a short speech at 10 am. Prominent writers, critics, journalist Bulon Kumar Saikia, principal of BVFC Higher Secondary School Dilip Singh, Namrup police station officer in-charge Moon Prakash Tiwari and others were present. Writer Bulon Kumar Saikia, who was present at the event, said, “We should not only plant a tree on the said celebration day, but people should always be aware of nature.”
Mangaldoi
World Environment Day was observed at different parts of Darrang on Saturday in a restricted manner due to the prevailing Covid pandemic situation.
“Crystal Vision” a local voluntary organisation on the occasion conducted a plantation as well as an awareness programme at Covid hit Daksaki-Mazgaon village under Dalgaon revenue circle of the district. Several local Covid survivors including septuagenarian Nagen Saharia also took part in the observation along with the office bearers and members of local public organisations, like Srimanta Sankardeva Namghar management committee and Mazgaon Kristi Bikash Kendra. Earlier president of Crystal Vision Mayukh Goswami in the present-day context of severe scarcity of artificial oxygen, explained the importance of growing green plants which release oxygen to the environment and absorb carbon dioxide.
Morigaon
The World Environment Day was celebrated by the members of the Jeeban Jeuti Krishak Sangha (JJKS) on the bank of the Charon Beel on Saturday. The members of the Jeeban Jeuti Krishak Sangha (JJKS) organised the celebration of the day in a small scale considering the Covid-19 pandemic. The president of the Jeeban Jeuti Krishak Sangha (JJKS) Tulsi Deka appealed to people to ensure lesser emission of pollution on Sunday by not using vehicles and instead of trying to reach office by bicycle or foot.
Demow
Along with the rest of the state, Demow and its surrounding areas observed World Environment Day by following Covid protocols on Saturday. The World Environment Day was observed at Demow development block Office on Saturday. On the occasion, Arun Gogoi, Demow block development officer (BDO) planted saplings at the campus of Demow development block office and distributed saplings. Following the instruction from state tourism minister under the patronage of Sivasagar district administration and district tourism department in collaboration with Social Forestry, Tourist Guide Association, Aaranyam NGO, local Gaon Panchayats president- secretary and locals the saplings plantation drive was organised at Assam Tourism Complex, Rajmai, Sivasagar on Saturday.
Gossaigaon
Like other parts of the state and to balance the natural equilibrium the World Environment Day was observed here at Failaguri in Gossaigaon under Parbhatjhora Forest Range.
A tree sapling distribution and plantation drive was also organised at the programme. In the programme about 500 tree saplings were distributed among the locals in Failaguri.
Tezpur
World Environment Day was observed in Sonitpur district, along with the rest of the world on Saturday in the office of forest and environment, Tezpur University, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi regional Institute of mental health, Northeast Regional Institute of Water and Land management at Dolabari in Tezpur, 12th Assam Rifles at Chariduar Nameri National Park at Nameri and in different other institutions. Limited people participated in the event because of the pandemic situation
Biswanath
Like the rest of the world many organisations including educational institutions, students’ organisations and other environment friendly institutions observed World Environment Day maintaining Covid protocol on Saturday. Scientific Temperament, a science-based organisation of Biswanath Chariali organised an online quiz competition on the topic of environment day. Angshuman Hazarika, secretary of the organisation forwarded welcome address Ripunjoy Bordoloi, Paryabaran Mitra forwarded a lecture on ecosystem and on the theme of World Environment Day, 2021. A total of sixty students aged between 12 to 18 from various parts of the country including Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, Kolkata, Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam had participated in the online quiz competition.