ITANAGAR, 5 Jun: World Environment Day (WED) was celebrated with tree plantation programmes across the state on 5 June.
In Itanagar, Governor BD Mishra and his wife Neelam Misra celebrated the day with schoolchildren at the Oju Mission School in Papu Nallah.
The governor, who planted a sapling in the school campus, said, “Every citizen must imbibe the mantra to leave this planet in better state and shape than what he or she has inherited from the forebears by wisely ensuring a cleaner, greener and nature compatible lifestyle.”
He appealed to the people of the state, especially the students and youths, to plant as many saplings as possible “to make Arunachal Pradesh a better place for the posterity.”
Misra also planted saplings of Kesseru and Som trees in Dobam village in Karsingsa.
The forest department carried out a ‘mass urban forestry plantation drive’ in NH 415 dividers in the capital region to mark the day with the theme ‘Each one, plant one, each one protect one’.
The event was attended by Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister Mama Natung and Itanagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Tame Phassang.
Natung urged the people of Arunachal to plant trees, and said that the younger generation “has critical functions and responsibilities in involving themselves and others in conservation, awareness and educational activities on natural resources management.”
Phassang also urged the younger generations to protect the environment.
Various branches of the Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) organised plantation drives across the state to mark the day. In Itanagar, plantation was done in the APWWS premises in Chimpu, while in Upper Siang, plantation was carried out at the government town secondary school in Yingkiong and the government middle school in Mariyang.
The Unnat Bharat Abhiyan cell of the NERIST in Nirjuli also celebrated the WED by planting saplings of various tree species. More than 50 plant saplings of various fruit-bearing trees were planted in the roadsides of the campus and near the NERIST playground.
In Lower Subansiri HQ Ziro, more than 75 ornamental tree saplings were planted during a plantation drive organised by Ziro Valley School to mark the WED. DC Somcha Lowang, along with the EROs and AEROs, planted saplings in the DEO office compound. The Ziro PHED division cleaned up the water treatment plant in Dutta village and planted saplings. The police department also conducted a plantation programme.
In Upper Siang district, government officials and members of the public carried out plantation drives in various parts of Yingkiong township.
In Lohit HQ Tezu, the NSS unit, along with students, faculty members and non-teaching staff of the Indira Gandhi Government College participated in a plantation programme and a cleanliness drive.
In Tawang, plantation and cleanliness drives were organised throughout the district by members of the public and Indian Army and paramilitary personnel. DC Kesang Ngurup Damo and DFO Sange Tsering planted saplings of various tree species near the DC office and in the botanical garden in the DC office premises, and later joined students and SSB personnel in a plantation drive organised by the Monpa Mimang Tsogpa near the Tawang monastery.
In Jang subdivision, the local administration and personnel of the 4 Corps conducted a cleanliness and plantation drive.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Padmini Singla, along with Deputy CEO Liken Koyu, state SVEEP nodal officer Lod Takkar and other election staffers planted saplings in the office premises of the CEO in Itanagar.
Plantation programmes were also carried out by all district election officers, electoral registration officers, assistant electoral officers and booth-level officers.
In Papum Pare, DC Sachin Rana participated in a plantation drive and administered the ‘Single use plastic-free zone’ pledge to the officers and officials of the DEO office in Yupia.
Similar programmes were conducted also in Itanagar, Doimukh, Sagalee, Kimin, Kakoi, Doimukh, Mengio, Tarasso, Gumto, Leporiang, Parang, and other areas.
The Changlang district administration conducted a plantation drive in Changlang township and along the Changlang-Margherita road. In Diyun circle, members of the local administration, the forest department and the India Foundation for Education Transformation planted over 100 saplings in and around the premises of five government schools in the circle.
In Kamle district, many ornamental plant species were planted along the PMGSY road in Yaga area by the Hapoli forest division. Among others, Raga MLA Tarin Dakpe attended the programme.
In Lower Dibang Valley district, students and teachers of Ridgeview Public School planted fruit saplings at various residences and in the school campus in Kera Ati village.
Meanwhile, Roing MLA Mutchu Mithi participated in a plantation programme organised by panchayat members at the government primary school in Kera Ati. Mithi allocated Rs 10 lakhs for construction of the school’s boundary wall.
In Tirap district, plantation drives were carried out in Khonsa, Lazu, Soha, Borduria, Dadam, Bari-Basip and Longo. In Dadam circle, the 6 Assam Rifles joined the administration in conducting a plantation drive.
World Environment Day was also celebrated by the officials and staff of the Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve. Around 1,000 seedlings of various fruit-bearing trees were distributed to the residents of the fringe villages.
A three-day nature camp for children was also organised at the Dapha Valley jungle camp. It included activities like hiking, bird watching, butterfly watching, rafting, etc. (With inputs from our correspondent & DIPROs)
