Shillong, June 05: Along with the rest of the world, World Environment Day was celebrated today in an impressive function held at Sangmein, Upper Shillong which was attended by Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma as the Chief Guest and Minister, Soil & Water Conservation as the Guest of Honor.
Chief Minister, Dr Mukul M Sangma, while addressing the gathering said that as the State joins the global citizens in observing the day, it reflects the commitment of the government and the community to address the issues of Global Warming and climatic change. He also added that the theme of this year’s celebration ‘Connecting People to Nature’ is very befitting to Meghalaya that is blessed with abundance of Nature and where people are deeply bonded with Nature.
Dr Sangma also reminded all that it is the human activities that have led to the degradation of the environment and correction is to be made by the human being themselves. He said that human activities can culminate to encourage sustainable livelihood to promote sustainable Ecology by engaging in scientific utilization and exploitation. He further said that the State government has embarked upon a number of multi pronged initiatives to promote sustainable Ecology by aggregating the strengths of the State with its rich flora and fauna in a convergence mode through its flagship programme the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme (IBDLP).
The Chief Minister also said that the government has been able to create an enabling environment through various interventions and people have come together to ensure that the potentialities around them are taken advantage of. He further said that the environmental issues cannot be dealt in isolation and needs to be taken care of in a comprehensive and collective manner. He added that Meghalaya can be the forerunner in environmental sustainability by leveraging upon the potentialities of culture, tradition and rich nature inherent to the state and urged the people to be self assisted members of the community ensuring sustainable future for the next generation.
The Chief Minister earlier administered the Green Pledge to the gathering and also launched “Seasons Watch-Meghalaya Chapter” website and released the Atlas of Resources in Meghalaya, Green Pages and Green Campaign 2017. He also gave away the Green Awards and prizes of Green Run to the winners.
Dr Mukul M Sangma also unveiled the commemorative plaque marking the launch of Springshed Development Initiative. The Springshed is a project of Soil & Water Conservation Department and will provide services like contour tapping, construction of check dams etc.
The World Environment Day celebration was also attended by MDC, Sohra, Dr Shreeranjan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest & Environment, Principal Secretary, Soil & Water Conservation and CEO, MBDA, R M Mishra, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills, P S Dkhar, Syiem of Mylliem, participants from schools, representatives from Eco Clubs from all over the state, Headman and local leaders of Mylliem and community based organizations.
The NEPA – a premier training institute in the Countryfor police training – take pride in maintaining eco-friendly campus and tree plantation is a continuous process in NEPA. In order to protect and preserve the flora & fauna and to nurture the trees in NEPA Campus,Shramdan(cleaning drive) is being organised regularly. Various kinds of saplings numbering 3000 were planted in the Campus. Such a tree plantation drive was conducted on the guidance of Shri N K Gurung, Additional Director NEPA, keeping in view the alarming issue of global warming and to counter the land-slides, deforestation, etc. and to maintain an eco-friendly campus for police trainee officers.
On this day the people of South West Garo Hills converged at Ampati Multi-Facility Centre on Monday to join in the celebration of World Environment Day, 2017, where the Government Chief Whip, W.D. Sangma as the chief guest led the gathering in taking the Green Pledge in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Cyril V.D. Diengdoh, Superintendent of Police, Bobby W. Momin, district officials, nokmas, local leaders, green volunteers, teachers and students.
The day’s celebration under the theme “Connecting People With Nature”, was organized by Basin Development Unit (BDU) South West Garo Hills in collaboration with the line departments and was marked by plantation of saplings, felicitation of individuals, farmers’ groups and green volunteers with the best green initiatives in their respective villages and distribution of prizes to winners of various competitions organized during the run-up to the celebration, including the “Connect with Nature” Run which was organized earlier in the morning.
During the celebration, Mr. W.D. Sangma distributed saplings to the nokmas/heads of villages for plantation in their respective villages and also handed out the copies of Eco-Club Charter to the Eco-clubs which were launched in various schools of the district as part of the celebration.
While addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr. W.D. Sangma reminded the people about their responsibilities as guardians of nature and gave a clarion call for every individual to do their bit to protect the environment around them and make a contribution in addressing the adverse effects of climate change. He also urged upon all concerned to follow up on every tree that were being planted to ensure sustainability.
