SHILLONG/ NONGPOH/ MAWKYRWAT/ AMPATI/ TURA: World Environment Day was observed across the state on June 5. Various awareness programmes and activities in an effort to instill a spirit of responsibility among participants were held.
Ferrando Hr. Sec. School, Nongrah, celebrated World Environment Day during a programme organised by the office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Ri Bhoi Social Forestry Division, Nongpoh on Thursday.
The objective of the programme was to spread awareness among the students and villagers about the current scenario of air pollution. Prior to the start of the programme, an environmental rally was conducted at 9am from Umroi playground to the venue.
H Lato, Divisional Forests Officer, Jaintia Hills Wildlife Division, attended the programme as the chief guest in the presence of S Mawlong FR, Range Forests Officer, Nongsder, J Dkhar, DFO, Ri-Bhoi Social Forestry Division, Nongpoh, P Dkhar, headman of Nongrah village, D Langstieh, ACF, EI Mawrie, RFO, S Passah, RFO, headmistress of Ferrando Hr. Sec. School, teachers and students.
Various cultural programmes were conducted during the programme including an open quiz competition. As part of the celebration an essay writing competition along with a drawing and painting competition were held on Monday and witnessed the participation of students from six different schools. The prize distribution ceremony was held on Thursday itself.
A tree plantation drive was also conducted inside the school compound. Around two thousand saplings were planted.
NEHU function
The department of Environmental Studies, NEHU, organised an environmental awareness programme at Umsaw village on Wednesday where students and research scholars of the department enlightened the villagers on various problems such as air pollution which also happens to be the international theme of the year.
D Paul, Head of the Department, engaged the young students and impressed upon them about the need to protect the environment and deliberated on the negative effects of air pollution.
He also informed the gathering that according to the World Bank, air pollution costs societies more than $5 trillion every year”. .
Clean methods of waste disposal and composting were also demonstrated including activities like tree plantation and painting competitions for children.
AROH Foundation
A programme was organised by the AROH Foundation team at Mawjrong with an aim to create an awareness among the people of 12 villages at Wahstew.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the village headman and community people.
Several activities were conducted including cleaning drives, drawing competitions, campaigns and inter-cultural programmes.
The AROH Foundation also inaugurated the smart school development at Lamjingshai LP UP & SSA School in Umtyngngar and Mawbeh Presbyterian Secondary school, Laitkroh block, East Khasi Hills.
The inauguration was done in the presence of Langkyrdem MDC, R Lyndem and I Sohtun, SDSEO of Sohra.
YWCA
Meanwhile, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Shillong observed World Environment Day by organising a cleaning drive and by planting saplings within its premises at Bivar Road.
Members of the YWCA along with the staff and hostellers participated in the programme which was chaired by the YWCA president, Meba-ailang Kharkongor.
Julie Lyngwa, senior member of the association spoke on the theme of ‘Air Pollution’ while Melanie F War, encouraged the gathering to work for a better future by minimising pollution.
Legal Service Authority
In South West Khasi Hills, a programme on World Environment Day was held at the Multipurpose Hall in Mawkyrwat.
The programme was organised by the office of the District Legal Service Authority, Mawkyrwat in collaboration with the Basin Development Unit, Mawkyrwat. The Additional Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills, W Biam graced the occasion as the chief guest.
In his address to the gathering, Biam stressed upon the need of conservation and perseveration of water bodies in catchment areas, forest, aquatic life, flora and fauna in order to be sustainable for future generations and called upon one and all to refrain from destroying nature in order to retain its natural beauty.
Others who spoke on the occasion include SS Khongkhliam, principal of Sngap Syiem College, Mawkyrwat and PP Lyngdoh, Divisional Soil & Water Conservation Officer, South West Khasi Hills. A power point presentation on the theme was presented by Niwancy Bareh, Enviornment Manager, Basin Development Unit, Mawkyrwat.
World Environment Day observed in SWGH
Widespread plantation of different species of trees were undertaken across South West Garo Hills as part of World Environment Day as well as the ‘One Citizen One Tree’ campaign from Tuesday to Thursday.
Nearly 80,000 saplings were planted in the district during the occasion.
The mass tree plantation programme was spearheaded by the Basin Development Unit, Ampati in collaboration with the line departments, various NGOs, schools and communities.
The tree plantation was led by South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and Chairman, BDU, Ramkumar S,
Don Bosco College Tura
Meanwhile, a seminar on the global theme of ‘Air Pollution’ was held Don Bosco College in Tura on Thursday. Initiated by the IQAC Cell of the College, speakers from various backgrounds dwelled at length on the problems of air pollution and suggested ways to contain this health menace.
Ratan Chakraborty, HOD, Department of Botany spoke about the preservation of local species of plants to keep the environment clean and pollution free while Fr. Bivan Rodriques Mukhim, principal, thanked the students of 5th semester Arts who voluntarily went to William Point and cleaned the whole area as part of their contribution to celebrating World Environment Day.
V Valentine, DPM-IFAD, Tura and Jachang N Sangma, joined the students of the college in a plantation drive around the campus as a fitting finale to the celebrations.
