Calls for banning SUPs echoed at Earth Day events
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 22 2025: Different government and private institutions across the state observed the Earth Day 2025 on Tuesday with a series of environment-focused events promoting sustainability, plastic-free living, and climate consciousness, while calling for public support towards effective ban on single-use plastics.

Commemorating the day, the Central Forest Division organised a cleanliness drive at Cheirao Ching in Langol Reserved Forest area with the objective of promoting environmental responsibility and forest conservation.

Organised under this year's Earth Day theme "Our Power, Our Planet", DFO Vikram Suresh Nadhe and his team led the cleanliness drive.

Informing this, a press release issued by the DFO Central Forest Division stated that students, teachers, and members of local clubs participated in the drive, collecting around 47 bags of plastic waste, amounting to approximately 9 cubic metres.

Participants collected litters, removed non-bio-degradable waste, and conducted awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of forest conservation and sustainable living.

The DFO spoke on the significance of collective efforts of the community in preserving biodiversity and protecting natural ecosystems.

The Forest Department also appealed to the public to avoid single-use plastics and adopt more eco-friendly alternatives.

The National Green Tribunal has already imposed a ban on single-use plastics, and the district administrations have recently formed district-level task forces to enforce the ban, he said, while calling for public support to ensure sustainable eco-tourism and long-term environmental protection.

Students for Development (SFD) Manipur also organised an awareness drives across seven campuses focusing on water and electricity conservation.

Faculty members and students participated in a poster campaign to encourage energy-saving habits and sustainable lifestyles among the public.

Stickers and posters were placed at key campus locations with the aim to foster a culture of eco-consciousness and shared responsibility for environmental protection.

Manipur Technical University observed the day with a series of programmes led by its civil engineering students' club and NSS units.

In its statement, the university informed that the event featured a lecture on environmental responsibility which highlighted the role of campus communities in adopting sustainable practices.

A "Zero Single-Use Plastic Campus" initiative was also launched by the university registrar, who also inaugurated the newly formed Eco-Club and led a pledge ceremony to eliminate plastic waste.

Earlier, students and faculty members also took part in a 12-km Cyclothon organised by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DE&CC).

Khongnangthaba University marked Earth Day observance by organising "Plastic-Free Zone Awareness Programme" in collaboration with the DE&CC, Those who spoke on the occasion emphasised the relevance of indigenous ecological knowledge in shaping sustainable environmental practices, called upon the participants to see Earth Day as a lifelong commitment rather than a symbolic observance, while at the same time drawing parallels between global environmental goals and traditional Meetei festivals that celebrate nature and biodiversity.

The event featured presentations by student offering innovative, grassroots solutions to plastic pollution and concluded with a call for academic institutions to take a leading role in research-driven climate action.

Sin Pang Foundation, Kakching also observed the day under the aegis of Ministry of Earth Sciences at Kakching Public School under the theme "This is our power, Our Planet - Renewable Energy" with tree plantation drive and painting competition for students from class IV to X.In the first category for class IV to VII, Leishangthem Alvil, Moirangthem Menaka, and Nongthombam Loyanganba respectively secured the first, second and third places.

The top three positions in the second category for class VIII to X were bagged by Kshetrimayum Rebanson, Shougaijam Benson, and Goldish Naorem.

Five consolation winners each were also selected from both categories Green Mission Committee of Sagolband Upper Primary School under ZEO Zone-1 also organised the day along with an awareness rally and tree plantation drive.

Headmistress in-charge RK Umadini expressed pride in the school winning the Green School Award under Samagra Shiksha and encouraged students to promote environment friendly habits.

IQAC, Geography department, NSS Unit I & II, and Observance Committee of YK College, Wangjing also commemorated the day at the college seminar hall with department of environment science head Dr N Sovarani speaking on "Renewable Energy for Better Future", and principal Prof Kh Jugindro on "Save Our Earth".

Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) marked the day by planting tree saplings at Lamjing Meira Ching, Nongmaijing Ching, and SUK head office campus at Wangkhei.

SUK district committees of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching, Bishnupur, and Jiribam also organised similar programmes in their respective areas as well as different schools, colleges and universities.

DM College of Science, Department of Geology observed the day at its seminar hall while Manipur University, Department of Biochemistry organised a quiz competition in connection the observance.

Tree plantation drive was also held at Angaan Ching Eco Park, Kakching led by SP Priyadarsini and ADAM, Kakching secretary Surjit Kshetrimayum, who is also the coordinator of the Management Committee Agaan Ching Eco Park Kakching.

DFO Chandel also observed the day at Japhou Upper Primary School, Chandel along with tree plantation and awareness programmes.

Around 300 students of the school and teaching staff participated in the programme which was led by DFO Chandel Dr Naorem Munal, and school principal Nicodim Monshang.

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