OSR/Our Correspondent
Jul 7: As part of the Van Mahotsav celebration, mass tree plantation drive continues in various part of the State.
CHURACHANDPUR
Under the aegis of Divisional Forest Officer (Soil & Water Conservation Division-II), Van Mahotsav was observed at Songpi village in Churachandpur District.
The function was attended by TS Haokip, DFO (Soil & Water Conservation Division-II), Th Lokendro Singh, DFO (Social Forestry Division), SW Suisa, DFO (Soil & Water Conservation Division-I) along with Range Forest Officer Th Indrakumar Singh and N Iboyai Singh, field and office staff of the Department.
Besides the village authority and youth club members, villagers of Songpi village also joined the tree plantation drive.
Addressing the crowd prior to planting the saplings, the forest officers while thanking the villagers for their keen participation in the programme, stressed on the importance and the need to continue planting more trees every year and also nurturing the trees.
They also encouraged the people to join hands with Forest Department in restoring the diminishing green coverage in the State.
More than 350 saplings of suitable species were planted along the roads, surrounding play grounds and open spaces of the village.
The youth club members also put up bamboo fencing around each sapling and vouched to protect and nurture it.
IMPHAL
As part of the 71st Van Mahotsav celebration, the Central Forest Division, Manipur organised a mass rally cum tree plantation programme on the theme " Save Langol Reserve Forest for Future" near the Lamdeng solid wastes management.
In connection with today's progamme, Chief Conservator of Forest, Territorial-1 L Lukhoi said that tree plantation has become difficult in the city as most areas in Central Imphal is overcrowded, with no room for tree plantation. The initiative was taken up to also expand the forest cover area.
The tree plantation and rally programme was held to support and protect Langol hill forest.
Participants of the rally walked till Hi-tech Bamboo Nursery, Langol reserve forest area.
Meanwhile the World Social Forum, Manipur also conducted a mass tree plantation drive on July 5 at Eco Green Park, Ishikha on account of the Van Mahotsav celebration and to mark the completion of one month following similar activities held on the occasion of World Environment Day, observed on June 5.
The forum in a statement maintained that it had planted many saplings since June 5 besides conducting awareness campaigns and distributing many booklets, leaflets and publications related to 'Climate Change'.
Forum's chairman, L Sotinkumar stressed on the issues pertaining to climate change and importance of afforestation during the July 5 event.
MOREH
The Moreh Battalion Assam Rifles conducted a tree plantation drive in observance of Van Mahotsav, where fruit-bearing trees were planted at the Key Location Point (KLP) campus today.
26 Sector AR Commander Sunil Sheoran graced the programme as chief guest and participated in the tree plantation.
The trees were planted with the hope to restore the environment and AR pledged to continue its work of planting more trees.
The programme was also attended by Moreh Battalion AR CO Sumit Sood along with officers and family.