Plantation, awareness prog mark World Environment Day

The Arunachal Times , Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Correspondent :

ITANAGAR, Jun 5: Massive plantations and awareness programmes marked the World Environment Day observation in Arunachal, on Monday.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu joined the school children in a tree plantation programme at Art of Living campus at Jollang village, organized by the Department of Forest and Environment and Climate Change.

About 200 students from six schools planted more than 300 saplings, mostly fruit bearing ones.

“When children are made part of nature conservation efforts, it has positive impact in their life,” Pema said, while expressing happiness at the participation of school children, and asked the Forest Department to conduct nature conservation programmes in schools and colleges involving the students.

“Our tribal culture is deeply intertwined with the nature – be it the puja or our way of living. Each tribe has unique relation with their natural environment, which makes our culture inseparable from nature,” he said.

“Arunachal is known for its green cover, which enables us to receive extra grants from the Centre,” said the Chief Minister and called upon the people to protect the nature.

He discouraged unplanned destruction in the name of development and urged all the departments to see that the development activities have minimal impact on nature.

“When nature thrives – we all live – else we are doomed,” said the Chief Minister.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein said that this year’s theme “Connecting People to Nature” is quite appropriate. Narrating how human beings have disconnected from nature with the passage of time in the pursuit of development and comfort, he said “We have degraded abundant natural resources through our own degrading activities, like rampant forest cutting, hunting and fishing”.

He pitched for restricting hunting and fishing in “shrine areas” in the state and also to ban rampant fishing by means of explosives, poison, electric shocks and other such activities. He also said that Kamlang Tiger Reserve is deteriorating day by day, and needs to be protected from further deterioration.

Parliamentary Secretary for Forest and Environment, C T Mein also stressed upon the need to protect and save forests and to plant more trees to ameliorate the environment. Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin elaborated on the environmental issues concerning the climate change and measures to combat climate change.

PCCF Omkar Singh highlighted the meaning and importance of this year’s theme “Connecting People to Nature” of World Environment Day, 2017.

Later, the Chief Minister distributed prizes to the children who won in the essay and drawing competitions. He also released a book, ‘Orchids of Arunachal’, a newsletter, ‘Arunachal Envis’ and a pocket book of laws for forest officers.

Earlier in the morning, the Chief Minister and others also took part in a tree plantation programme at Hollongi, followed by inauguration of Forest Check Gate at Hollongi, where the Chief Minister addressed the people of the area on importance of conservation of nature.

Minister of UD & Town Planning, NabamRebia, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture & Fisheries, Tatung Jamoh and Arunachal Pradesh Forest Corporation Chairperson, TaloMugli also attended the programme.

World Environment Day was also observed in different parts of the state by various educational institutes, government establishments, organizations and NGOs.

At Aalo, the Forest Division, in collaboration with the army and civil administration organized plantation drives at Aalo, Kamba, Kaying and Tato to mark the day.

Brigadier J S Budhwar, Station Commander, Aalo inaugurated the drive by planting a tree at Aalo Military Garrison. Abhinav Kumar, District Forest Officer, Aalo with his staff took the initiative to plant ornamental trees like gulmohar, nahar an ajar along the roads leading to Mechuka and Pangin.

At Tezu, a mass tree plantation drive was organized from Club Road to GHSS gate, followed by a film show at AmikRingya hall. Around 60 students from four different schools participated in the programme.

Highlighting the theme ‘Connecting People to Nature’, Lohit Deputy Commissioner Danish Ashraf said the theme is apt especially for our state as the indigenous tribes of the state have always lived in harmony with nature.

Chief Conservator of Forest Dr K Kire said that every individual should have the responsibility towards nature and its conservation. Every day should be celebrated as WED to remind ourselves of its importance, he opined.

Later, 10 seedlings were distributed to each school to plant in their school campuses.

At Ziro, the day was observed creating awareness among the public about the importance of protecting the environment and managing solid waste. Emphasis was given to segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste at the source.

Similar awareness was also organized at Raga Town.

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Itanagar and Zoological Survey of India, Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre, Itanagar jointly celebrated World Environment Day at the BSI office premises.

Parasnath, Commandant, 138 Bn CRPF, Itanagar and Dr V K Rawat, Scientist & Head of Office, BSI, Dr S Gurumayum, Scientist, ZSI, Itanagar, Dr M K Kandwal, Scientist, BSI, Itanagar and other scientists from both the organizations shared their views on the aspect of environment and its conservation.

A tree plantation programme and drawing competition among the school children were organized to mark the occasion.

Joining the rest of the world, the ICICI Tawang branch organized a plantation drive in collaboration with Social Forestry Division, Tawang.

The forestry team led by Tawang DFO, Dr Abdul Qayum Siddique and the bank team planted around 50 saplings near Kalawangpo Convention Hall. Public leaders and students from KendriyaVidyalayaTawang also participated in the drive.

At Miao, the students and staff of most of the 45 schools under Newman Educational Society, across eight districts of east Arunachal Pradesh planted saplings around the school campus to observe World Environment Day.

“These trees will not only help improve the environment but also make you feel proud of visiting your school in the future and will make you feel nostalgic”, said Father Felix, the Principal of Newman School Neotan.

At Bomdila, Deputy Commissioner SonalSwaroop led the public in celebrating the day. The Deputy Commissioner reiterated the importance of nature and its preservation and propagation. She said that the existence of mankind depends on nature. The follies of people have led to global warming and climate change, she said.

She urged the people to take a step ahead for a secured future and go for mass plantation.

DFO Tasso Sira highlighted the importance of the occasion and called on officers and NGOs to imbibe ‘Each one plant one’ and to motivate the staff and the students to make the world a better place to live in by planting trees as and where needed.

A total of 800 cupresus, chirpine, maple and cryptomeria saplings were planted on the occasion. Another 200 saplings would be planted, making the college campus a green house and an example of nature conservation.

On the occasion, a plantation programme was also organised at NHPC Dibang Multipurpose Project (DMP), Roing. Ramesh Kumar, Chief Engineer, DMP, along with all senior officers and other employees led the half-a-day long plantation programme by planting different types of saplings at the premises of Government ITI, Roing. Students and staff of the ITI also actively participated in the programme. The event was coordinated by the Department of Environment, DMP.

Celebrating the day, the North Eastern Police Academy planted various kinds of 3000 saplings in the campus. The plantation drive was conducted under the guidance of N K Gurung, Additional Director NEPA, keeping in view the alarming issue of global warming and to counter the land-slides, deforestation, and to maintain an eco-friendly campus for police trainee officers.

SAI SAG Centre Naharlagun also celebrated World Environment Day by organising a plantation programme.

At Hawai, the District Administration, in collaboration with the Department of UD & H, observed the day by organizing a special awareness campaign on segregation of domestic solid wastes into biodegradable and non-biodegradable separately at the source.

In Anini, Deputy Commissioner Tamune Miso took part in a plantation drive conducted jointly by the army and Arunachal Scouts at Koyla Basti. The DC urged the jawans to plant more trees and protect the environment. He also emphasized on the importance of maintaining cordial relation between army and the civil administration. The DC along with the District Forest Officer and administrative officers also took part in a similar drive at ITBP camp.

The DWNCES &Kerah Trust, in collaboration with WII, Dehradun organized a programme at the circuit house, wherein a drawing competition was held for student of different schools of the district. A documentary ‘The Wild Meat trail’ by Rita Bannerji and Shilpi Sharma on the effects of hunting on environment was also screened on the occasion.

At Boleng, a door to door awareness campaign on source segregation of municipal solid waste-cum-Plantation drive was organised by the Department of UD and Housing on the occasion. A team led by Deputy Director UD & H, SonkoliSonam demonstrated how waste generated in every household can be segregated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste right at the household level for easier collection, transportation, treatment and subsequent disposal of the generated waste while protecting the environment.

Anjaw Deputy Commissioner in-charge RupirSiboh expressed concern over global warming due to environmental pollution and advised everyone to contribute to maintain a pollution-free environment.

The difference between biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, its separation at source and disposal etc were also explained on the occasion.

Meanwhile, DIPRO informed that road connectivity between Hayuliang and Hawai was disrupted due to incessant rain, and hampered the restoration work.

 
SOURCE : http://www.arunachaltimes.in/plantation-awareness-prog-mark-world-environment-day/
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us