SHILLONG/TURA/JOWAI/NONGPOH: Meghalaya along with the rest of the country celebrated Gandhi Jayanti on Monday. To mark this occasion, various programmes like cleaning drives were conducted across the state.
The closing ceremony of Swachhta Hi Seva was held on Monday by the Shillong Cantonment Board at Cantonment Board Community Hall, Jhalupara, in which Deputy Commissioner PS Dkhar was the chief guest.
Dkhar stressed on the importance of individual contribution to a clean city.
W Kharkrang, environmental engineer of the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board, pointed out that people should take it as a challenge to maintain cleanliness in respective areas.
The Indian Army under the aegis of HQ 101 Area undertook a multitude of activities to ensure cleaning up of Shillong Cantonment and its surrounding areas. Various activities like cleaning of residential areas, the Umshyrpi and the adjoining areas, painting competition, lectures, skit and other programmes were organised to spread the message of cleanliness.
The officials and volunteers of the Central Puja Committee on Monday undertook the task of cleaning the ghat at Wah Umkhrah in Polo post immersion. The committee cleans the immersion ghat every year.
The Border Security Force Meghalaya Frontier conducted Swachh Bharat Abhiyan-Swachhta Hi Seva along the international border as well as at its headquarters at Umpling campus (Shillong), Sector Headquarters/Battalions Location at Dobasipara/Dhanakgre (Tura), Mawpat (Shillong) and surrounding localities.
The Shillong City Congress Committee also observed the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in the presence of James S Lyngdoh, Working President, MPCC, Manash Das Gupta, General Secretary, MPCC, and Kamol Marbaniang, General Secretary, Shillong City Congress Committee and members of the Mahila and the Youth Congress.
In Tura, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma led the plantation drive and also distributed saplings to students and community leaders at different locations here and in Ampati under the Chief Minister’s Clean & Green Campaign and “Gift a Sapling” programme as part of the launch of 15-day programme of Gram Samriddhi Evam Swachhta Pakhwada, 2017.
Parliamentary Secretaries, Noverfield R Marak, Brigady N Marak and Ashahel D Shira, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Pravin Bakshi, district officials, heads of institutions, community leaders, teachers and students were among others who participated in the tree plantation and clean & green campaign.
The occasion is also a celebration of the intensification of the Chief Minister’s Clean & Green Campaign, under which millions of saplings have been distributed and planted across the state over the last five years since the launching of the programme in 2011-12.
Stating that the government has accorded special thrust on agro forestry, Sangma informed that the process of plantation of restricted plants like Agar and Sandalwood has been simplified and called upon the farmers to take advantage of the same to benefit their future generations.
He briefly highlighted the ill-effects of inhaling polluted air and said that through the interventions under Mission Green and Clean & Green Campaign, Meghalaya can boast of being a carbon neutral state.
During the drive, the plantation of bougainvillea saplings were undertaken at Tetengkol Junction, Circuit House and ITI, Araimile in Tura and Chengkompara locality roadside and Circuit House at Ampati.
Cleaning drives were also conducted in various schools, government institutions and localities in South West Garo Hills as part of the occasion.
In Nongpoh, the Meghalaya State Water and Sanitation Mission in collaboration with the District Water and Sanitation Mission of Ri Bhoi on Monday concluded the fortnight-long celebration of Swachh Bharat Diwas where a series of events was organised under the theme Swachhata Hi Seva.
The minister in-charge PHE Department, Celestine Lyngdoh, expressed happiness at all villagers’ participation. Lyngdoh urged everyone to be the agent of change towards creating a clean and safe environment.
In Jowai, as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the West Jaintia Hills district administration, along with the Jowai Traffic Police and the Jaintia Traders Association organised a cleaning drive in and around Iawmusiang area.
Hundreds of school students, NCC and scouts and guides participated in cleaning Iawmusiang.
Swachhata Hi Seva was observed by the 120 Bn CRPF in all Garo Hills districts from September 15 to October 2.
On Monday as part of observance of Gandhi Jayanti, CRPF personnel based in Tura paid befitting tribute to Bapu’s vision of clean India by participating in cleanliness campaign in and around Dikki Bandi stadium premises in Tura.
A cleaning drive was organised from Rongsak point to Rongsak Bazar, East Garo Hills through Village Health Sanitation Nutrition Committee in collaboration with Rongsak Baptist Church on Monday.
Swachhta Hi Sewa programme was organised at NEEPCO, Corporate Office in city on Monday.
A cleaning drive campaign was organised in and around the corporate office premises.