Major Gen Alok Naresh briefs media on 'Afforestation drive'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 17 2021:
Major General Alok Naresh, Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) on Friday interacted with media personnel of Manipur, and briefed them on the afforestation drive undertaken by the Assam Rifles in Manipur.
During the interaction, Major General Alok Naresh stated that, in-keeping with the ethos of the Forces, "Sentinels of the North East", Assam Rifles has been at the forefront of various people-centric activities in Manipur and North East as a whole, said a statement of IGAR(S).
In line with this, the Assam Rifles carried out an afforestation drive in Manipur as part of the pan India programme being organised under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs.
The pan India programme was in-line with the Prime Minister's inspirational vision of bringing 26 million Hectares of land under plantation by 2030 which he elucidated during the G20 summit in November 2020.Accordingly, the troops of the IGAR (South) planted over 21 Lakh trees in the 11 districts of Manipur in 2020 as part of the afforestation drive.
It is pertinent to mention that IGAR (South) spearheaded the afforestation drive in Manipur wherein the troops of Assam Rifles planted over 96% of the total trees planted in the State in 2020.To achieve this massive task, certain initiatives were undertaken by the Force such as establishing our own nurseries in various operating bases as wel I as creating Van Vatikas to honour the fallen soldiers of Assam Rifles, it added.
Continuing with the initiative, IGAR (South) will plant 7.2 Lakh more trees during the current year.
To support this drive, the Formation is in the process of establishing new nurseries and Van Vatika's along with creating vermi-composting pits to attain self-sufficiency with respect to afforestation.
By the end of the current year, the Formation would have 127 nurseries, 62 Van Vatika's and 33 vermi-composting pits in various locations across the State.
Assam Rifles has been actively collaborating with the local Forest Department authorities to give an impetus to the efforts of the State Government and Forest Department in their efforts to also 'green' the State of Manipur.
Assam Rifles has also been at the forefront of the drive to prevent deforestation in Manipur through frequent educational interactions with people at the grassroots level.
In the span of last one and a half years, IGAR (South) has undertaken 46 specific operations wherein forest produce including timber and wildlife products to the tune of Rs 213 Crore have been seized.
In the end, the Inspector General assured the people of the State of Manipur that the Assam Rifles is committed to their upliftment through not only providing security but also by engaging in people-centric and humanitarian efforts now and in the future also.