The AASU in an ambitious move to afforest 250 bigha land planted 5,000 saplings on the barren land at Japanggaon in Balimahi Chapori of the river Brahmaputra in the flood-prone Janjimukh area on the occasion of World Environment Day on Saturday.
The aim is to create an environment for birds to nest and to provide fodder to a herd of elephants which cause depredation in nearby villages.
The green project to create a landscape which in future could attract tourists was started on June 5 last year by the Jorhat district unit of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Teok regional unit.
The land now has 20,000 saplings growing into trees with villagers tending to the plants.
An AASU member said the project, once completed, may contribute to efforts in tackling elephant depredation by a wild herd that moves along the bank of the Brahmaputra causing destruction of paddy fields and trees in riverine village areas including Majuli.
He thanked the forest department for extending full cooperation in the endeavour.
Conservationist Lalit Toud is actively involved in the project.
AASU state executive committee member Jitu Neog, adviser of Teok AASU unit Rontu Bhuyan, Papu Kalita and Pranjal Dutta,president and general secretary respectively of Teok regional unit and Jorhat district unit AASU president Bijoy Shankar Bordoloi are also involved in the project.