Green Tour of Garo Hills from Tura to Ampati
TURA: Organizers of the “Green Tour Garo Hills” cyclothon, covering 46-odd kilometers from Tura in West Garo Hills to Ampati in South West Garo Hills have come up with a novel idea of spreading the green mantra by discouraging the use of plastics during one of the biggest bicycle rallies slated to take place on the 17th of this month.
The event which is being organized under the Chief Minister’s Youth for Green Campaign Movement will be flagged off at Tura by Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Zenith Sangma and the cyclists will be received at Ampati by the Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma in person.
Highlighting the importance of a ‘plastic-free’ environment and the need to spread awareness on pollution, one of the event partners of the cyclothon informed that participants would be encouraged to spread the green initiative by avoiding the use of plastic items during the rally.
“We will avoid the use of disposable plastic glasses and bottles in line with the theme of the event which is to promote green and healthy habits as well as to preserve the cultural heritage,” informed Daryl William Momin, President of William Initiative which is the event partner of the cyclothon rally.
Previous rallies including the recent peace marathon in Tura on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti witnessed large scale use of disposable plastic glasses and bottles that were left littered on the streets of Tura thereby raising the carbon footprint of the town.
This week’s programme is being jointly organized by the district administrations of West and South West Garo Hills along with the event management partners William Initiative and Northern United Club and will include exhibition and sale of local cuisine, inter-locality tug of war, under-15 bicycle race and slow race amongst other attractions which will be held at Ampati playground.
Organisers are expecting one of the largest gathering of cycling enthusiasts not just from the five districts of Garo Hills but also from the Khasi and Jaintia region.
Cash prizes to the tune of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 10,000 for the first three winners will be given away on the same day along with prizes for other categories.