75th Van Mahotsav: Wide-scale tree plantation drive organised
Source: The Sangai Express / DIO

Bishnupur/Thoubal/Senapati, July 05 2024: Wide-scale tree plantation drives are being held across the State as a part of the ongoing 75th Van Mahotsav celebration to raise awareness on the importance of forest conversation so as to save the environment.

Van Mahotsav is an annual event which is celebrated across the country in the first week of July.

Bishnupur

In connection with the 75th Van-Mahotsav, 2024, Bishnupur Forest Division organised a mass tree plantation programme under the theme "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Plant4Mother" at Sangai Ethnic Park, Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district today.

The tree plantation drive was led by Deputy Commissioner, Bishnupur, Lourembam Bikram and was attended by SP Bishnupur Ravikumar Ksh; DFO Waikhom Romabai; ADM Bishnupur H Bobby Sharma; Sub-Divisional Officer (SDOs) and district level officials.

75th Van Mahotsav: Wide-scale tree plantation drive organised

Speaking on the occasion, DC Bishnupur Lourembam Bikram said that the tree plantation drive is organised with an aim to plant 10,000 saplings in 20 different locations across the district.

The DC highlighted the importance of tree plantation, underscoring the severe impacts of climate changes like thunderstorms, hailstorms, landslides, floods, which the State has been facing since April this year.

He called upon the citizens to participate actively in protecting the forests to mitigate such calamities in the future.

The DC also urged the public to contribute individually by planting at least one tree per family, aligning with the theme of this year's Van-Mahotsav "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: Plant4Mother" .

Stressing that combating climate change is a global responsibility that requires local action, the DC encouraged everyone to think globally and act locally.

Meanwhile, a plantation drive was also held at Young Guidance Club ground, Chingmei located next to Keibul Lamjao National Park in Thanga Assembly Constituency.

The plantation drive was jointly organised by Chingmei Nupi Apunba Village Level Federation (VLF), Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun and Manipur Forest Department.

It was a collaborative effort of the Government agencies and local communities to tackle climate change and safeguard the environment.

Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission (MSRLM) Moirangkhunou Cluster Coordinator Salam Bikram; Wildlife Institute of India Project Scientist Dr Mirza Ghazanfarullah; VLF Chingmei secretary N Renubala, Young Guidance Club Secretary Ningthoujam Premjit, members of CAMPA Sangai Project Team of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and volunteers of Chingmei Nupi Apunba VLF took part in today's plantation drive.

Thoubal

Thoubal Forest Division and Khongjom War Memorial Committee jointly organized the District Level 75th Van Mahotsav celebration at Khongjom War Memorial Complex today.

The aim of the festival is to honour and love mother earth by planting trees, by creating awareness of nature's beauty, and by fostering an environment to promote the concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle.

During the function, Deputy Commissioner Thouba, A Subhash Singh, IAS, spoke on the visible changes in climatic conditions and adverse effect of deforestation affecting the citizens.

Rakesh Balwal, Senior Superintendent of Police,Thoubal and Dr Leishangthem Jeecelee, Divisional Forest Officer(DFO), Thoubal Forest Division also joined the Deputy Commissioner in leading the tree plantation programme.

Students, teachers and non-teaching staff from different schools of Thoubal and various Government departments took part in the tree planting celebration.

Senapati

The Senapati Forest Division in collaboration with the District Administration, Senapati celebrated the 75th Van Mahotsav 2024 today under the theme "Plant a hope for the future" at the Mini Secretariat, Senapati.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Senapati, Mamoni Doley, IAS, stated that Van Mahotsav celebration is held to raise awareness on the importance of tree plantation.

The DC went on to state that rampant tree cutting in the district has caused soil erosion and less soil absorption and appealed to the village authorities to join hands together with the District Administration to tackle the issue of deforestation.

As a part of the celebration, the Senapati DC led the tree plantation drive at the premises of the Mini Secretariat, Senapati followed by a plantation drive at the District Level Officers' premises.