BANDERDEWA, Jul 4: A mass tree plantation programme was organised to mark the 69th Van Mahotsav at the Police Training Centre (PTC), here on Wednesday.
A large number of people, including DSP (Training) Dusu Kaling, police personnel and their family members, forest personnel, Banderdewa SHGs, public leaders planted hundreds of saplings during the programme.
Earlier, addressing the volunteers and police personnel, Environment and Forest Minister Nabam Rebia urged them to take tree plantation programme in a mission mode to protect Mother Nature.
“Mother Nature has given us everything and it is our responsibility to protect and preserve it for our survival,” Rebia said.
Referring to wanton destruction of forest for human settlement and urbanisation, Rebia said that around 200 rivers and nallahs in the state have dried up, and if such destruction continues, people may face drought-like situation in near future, and stressed on mass awareness on environment and forests.
PTC principal Surendra Chaudary and Banderdewa DFO Neelam Nido also appealed to everyone to plant more tree in schools and colleges and other places to save the earth.
In Nafra, West Kameng district, around 500 saplings were planted in and around the town as part of the Van Mahotsav celebration.
Spearheaded by the Forest department, the plantation drive as well as the celebration was joined by former MLA Rinchin Kharu Rijiju, former Panchayat members, members of Sajolang Elite Society, Sajolang Students’ Union and public.
The former MLA called upon the people for preservation of the flora and fauna.
Range Forest Officer P Tali appealed to all to plant at least a tree each for healthy environment. He also highlighted the impacts of global warming and appealed to the people to create awareness on the negative impacts of deforestation. (With DIPRO inputs)
