For the first time in the history of Manipur, more than 50,000 saplings, mostly of local varieties, were planted in more than 1,000 educational institutions including 950 schools and 80 colleges.
The initiative taken up by education department with the forest department and All Manipur Working Journalist Union, not only aims at planting of trees but also monitoring the survival of these trees that are planted on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
Manipur education minister Thokchom Radheshyam, senior officials of forest and education departments attended the formal inauguration of the mass plantation programme at S K Ideal High School, Konthoujam under Imphal West district on Wednesday morning.
Addressing the inaugural programme, education minister Radheshyam said planting a sapling is very easy but making it survive, grow and attain its maturity is a big challenge.
He said the education department in collaboration with the forest department and All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) is all set to take up the big challenge in monitoring the survival and growth of the trees.
Stating that every tree planted on Wednesday has a name tag of the student, teacher and staff indicating that these individuals are in charge of the trees planted, he said adding that the teachers and students are the owners of the tree saplings and it is their responsibility to nurture the plants to make those survive and grow until they attain maturity.
Stating that the name Umang Lai in itself defines the importance of the forest in the culture and tradition of Manipur, Radheshyam said the festival of Laiharaoba to please the Gods and Goddesses of Umang Lai has been celebrated since time immemorial.
Considering the importance of conserving forest around Umang Lai, he urged the authorities concerned to rejuvenate the forest.
Such action of involving huge number of people will also help in creating massive awareness about the importance of environment and the need to safeguard the nature, says additional principal chief conservator of forests Anurag Bajpai.
Planting of more trees and covering the land with green plant is the most effective way to fight ‘air pollution’ because barren land produces huge amount of carbon dioxide.
MLA Sapam Ranjan Singh (Konthoujam), director of education department, Th Kirankumar Singh led officials of the education department, teachers, students and the guardians attending the celebration of World Environment Day, 2019, which has been celebrated throughout the world under the theme ‘Air Pollution’.