Shillong: World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 worldwide and is the biggest annual event that encourages positive environmental action.
The host country for this year’s World Environment Day celebrations is Canada and the theme chosen is ‘Connecting People to Nature’… and in line to the theme GVK EMRI Meghalaya, carried out a pledge taking signature campaign. A huge positive response was seen from the citizens of the state to create awareness to safeguard our planet Earth. The SP East Khasi Hills, Davis N Marak, with his team from SP office also took part in the campaign. GVK EMRI also installed bamboo bins to GO Green and keep the city clean along Wards Lake Bus stops from State Central Library to Police Bazaar.
Mahila Congress
The Meghalaya Pradesh Mahila Congress along with the world celebrated World Environment Day. To mark the occasion, the Mahilas of Sohiong organised a programme. During the programme, a message was given to the young generation to make their homes, school, and youth organisation environmental friendly.
Shillong Cantonment Board
As part of World Environment Day celebration the Shillong Cantonment Board organised a tree plantation programme at Shillong Cantonment Board, Vidya Bajoria Park and Pine Walk areas on Monday. The programme was inaugurated by Sh. Saurav Ray, Director, Defence Estate, Ministry of Defence, Kolkata. Others who attended the programme were Vishwas Sohal, Chief Executive Officer, Cantonment Board and employees, students and members.
Municipal Board in collab with Red FM
The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) in collaboration with Red FM 93.5 organised a “Road Show Swach Bharat Campaign- Solid Waste management” on Monday to celebrate World Environment Day.
Director of Urban Affairs, E. Kharmalki and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shillong Municipal Board, B. Sohliya distributed certificates to students, who were named as Swachhata ambassadors. The students assisted the Dorbar Shnong and traditional heads in monitoring the segregation of waste.
In another category, Synod School Higher Secondary School bagged the award for Best performance by a school waste management activities. Laban Assamese Girls’ Higher Secondary school came in second place followed by Laban Presbyterian Higher Secondary School in third place.
BSNL plants saplings
BSNL NE-I Circle, Shillong, has celebrated World Environmental Day on Monday by tree plantation in its CTO compound. K. K. Saxena, Chief General Manager. NE-I Circle along with other senior officers of BSNL have planted variety of saplings in their compound.
Awards distribution in Shillong College
Shillong College and Shillong College Academic Society (SCAS) celebrated World Environment Day on Monday at the Shillong College Campus. As part of the programme, plantation of saplings was undertaken within the college campus. The chief guest of the function was P.K. Agrahari, IFS, Planning Officer, Forest Department.
On this occasion the Health and Sanitation Branch of Shillong Municipal Board was presented with citation and memento, which were received by A. Umdor, Inspector of Health and Sanitation Branch. Three other, Tegu Masih, Orlando Kharkongor and Mon Singh were also awarded by the College and SCAS with certificates and cash of Rs 5000 each.
SPARK kids observe World Environment Day
The children of SPARK came forward to observe the cause following the theme for the year which is all about “Connecting People to Nature”.
The mission of protecting the Nature started one month back when these underprivileged realised the importance of nature in each one’s life after they watched a documentary film based on Nature.On this day, an awareness campaign was conducted about nature and the importance of protecting it.
The children took the initiative and planted a huge number of trees as well as cleaned the surrounding areas and made the nature look beautiful by planting flowers on the targeted areas.
NEEPCO function
Officials and staff Of NEEPCO celebrated World Environment Day at its headquarters in Shillong on Monday by planting saplings .
Bank of Baroda
On the occasion of the 49th Foundation Day of Bank of Baroda Shillong Branch and World Environment Day, the Swachh Bharat programme was organised at Police Bazar. A.K.Panda, General Manager & Zonal Head of Eastern Zone Kolkata and Sonam T. Bhutia, Asistant General Manager, North Eastern States Guwahati along with all the staff members of Shillong Main Branch attended the programme.
St Francis School plants 475 saplings
St Francis D’Assisi Higher Secondary School, Mawkasiang, East Khasi Hills, celebrated World Environment Day by organising a brief awareness programme for its students and staff, chaired by Br Jinu Joseph, Principal and Brother Zacharia as chief guest.
The students also connected with nature by planting 475 trees in and around the school premises. Tree saplings were provided by the EFC under BDO Mylliem Block.
Recitation competition to mark WED
The Environment Protection Committee of Youth Hostels Associations of India (YHAI), State Branch in collaboration with East Khasi Hills district unit of YHAI Meghalaya State Branch organised recitation competition based on the “Theme of connecting people to nature”.
The venue of the programme was Lieulong, Pomlakrai. The programme was held on June 3, supported by the community school of Lieulong all together six school participated in different competitions. The chief guest of the programme was LJ Syiemiong and the programme was presided by the Chairman of the YHAI Meghalaya State Branch E.D. Nongsiang
Green message in GH
Garo Hills joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Environment Day on Monday holding mass sapling plantations, awareness talks and cleaning of polluted water bodies.
The celebrations went beyond the official participation as cluster groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), self-help groups (SHGs) in the village levels took the initiative to create awareness on the dangers posed by global climate change the implications of which are being felt even in this once lush green region of Garo Hills where dwindling forest cover has resulted in rising temperatures and reduction in rainfall with every passing year.
Hoping to catch them young, children were encouraged to participate in the environment day celebrations with the holding of an early morning ‘Green Marathon’ run in Tura town.
In the run up to the World Environment Day celebrations, school children were given an opportunity to showcase their talent by way of essay writing, green photography contest, green paper concept writing, slogan writing, among others.
Two days earlier, ‘green activists’ of the town undertook a cleaning drive of the Gandrak Dare (falls) that snakes its way through most localities of Tura town.
Despite being abundant with water even during the dry months of the year, people of the town are unable to make use of the water due to sewage and other pollutants being discarded into it.
In recognition of the efforts of those who took part in that cleaning operation, certificates were given to the participants during the official celebration of World Environment day at Tura’s SMELC conference hall organised by the district administration in collaboration with the IBDLP and the Tura Municipal Board along with other government line departments.
This year’s theme for the event was “Connecting people with Nature” and speaker after speaker stressed on the urgency for people to step forward and take a role in protecting the environment for future generations.
One of the crucial points that were raised to combat climate change in Garo Hills was made by Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), NRM Director Daniel Ingty, who suggested the idea of adopting certain areas and villages for partnering together for developing nurseries and forest reserves so as to conserve nature and the ecosystem in the region.
Ingty was of the view that community participation would go a long way in creating lasting awareness about climate change and forest preservation.
Deputy Commissioner, Pravin Bakshi, also expressed concern about the ill-effects of deforestation and degradation of the environment in the region and called upon each individual to work on a mission mode to preserve the rich biodiversity and wildlife of their respective areas.
In South West Garo Hills the day was marked with a Green Run and a Green Pledge besides presentation of Green Awards for the ‘environmental soldiers’ who have been striving hard in preservation of the green cover. Salmanpara MLA Winnerson D Sangma and deputy commissioner Cyril V D Diengdoh together with village Nokmas, SHGs, teachers and students took part in the tree plantation programme and a function to mark the occasion.
Similar tree plantation and awareness programmes were held at multiple places in Garo Hills, including Williamnagar, Baghmara, Resubelpara, Mendipather, Chokpot, Selsella, Dadenggre, to name a few.
1000 nursery trees planted in SGH
Chilpara area, South Garo Hills, celebrated World Environment Day organised by Chilpara Youth Club in association with Bolmedang Youth Club, Tengasot Youth Club and Tengasot LP/UP and High School.
As many as 500 people planted around 1000 sapling on the roadside.
