SHILLONG/JOWAI, June 5: With staunch advocacy of protecting the environment for a sustainable future, Meghalaya joined the World Environment Day celebrations on Monday with people from different walks of life coming together to organise many programmes, which comprised mostly plantation and cleaning drives in various places of the state.
At Raj Bhavan here, Governor Phagu Chauhan led a cleaning drive within the premises of Raj Bhavan, actively involving all the staff members. The drive aimed to ensure a clean and hygienic environment while fostering a sense of responsibility towards nature.
The Governor planted five tree saplings in the lawn of Raj Bhavan.
Meanwhile, the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) celebrated the day with a series of events and activities on the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
The Department of Sanitation, NEIGRIHMS, organised a number of activities to raise awareness about the harmful effects of plastic pollution which included release of T-shirts and caps, tree plantation drive within the institute campus in collaboration with Assam Rifles and Bank of Baroda, Mawdiangdiang Branch, Shillong. A total of 600 trees were planted within NEIGRIHMS campus; plastic clean-up campaign, ‘Save Environment & Say No To Plastic Campaign’, under which posters were placed all around the campus to raise awareness among staff of NEIGRIHMS, patients and visitors about the importance of saving the environment and saying no to plastic.
Moreover, waster materials were used to make items for display at the campus.
A seminar on World Environment Day was also organised on the theme ‘#Beat Plastic Pollution’. The guest of honour and main speaker at the seminar was Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (T) and Chairman of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, RS Gill, IFS. Posters made by sanitation workers on the theme and the decorative items made from waste by students from College of Nursing, NEIGRIHMS were displayed outside the seminar venue.
Sanitation workers, who have done exemplary work in the fields of plantation and horticulture, were felicitated. Poster and Quiz competitions were also organised for them, and prizes were distributed among winners of different competitions.
The Mawlai Town Dorbar on Monday organised a special cleaning drive of the Umshing river, Umsohlang stream and a tree plantation programme at Lum Mawpat.
The programme was organised through the financial support of the Chief Minister under the model scheme to revitalise the two water sources in Mawlai.
More than 500 volunteers from 16 Dorbar Shnong, who are part of the Mawlai Town Dorbar, participated in the programme.
The first group from nine Dorbar Shnong was engaged to clean the main source of Umshing-Umjapung to the PHE main intake point at Kynton Massar.
The second group was engaged in planting saplings in the catchment areas at Lum Mawpat. The final group was tasked with cleaning the stretch of the river from Nongkwar to Mawiong Umjapung. Town Dorbar Secretary Dr Marco Mitri spoke about the significance of the two water bodies, which is the only source of potable water for the population of Mawlai, while also revealing that the entire Dorbar for the first time took up the issue of preserving the environment as a unit.
“If we do not protect it now then the next generation would face huge difficulties since there will be no water source to feed the people of Mawlai area,” the MTD general secretary said.
Stating that hardly 20% of the population of Mawlai has tap water connection, while the rest depend on public taps for drinking water, Mitri also flagged the problem of water scarcity. He added that people have waited for more than 12 years for the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) Phase III to materialise.
Suggesting the need to rejuvenate the various water bodies and sources like Umsohlang Water Supply Scheme, which will cater to the villages like Umshing, Mawroh, Mawdatbaki, Mawkynroh and Kynton Massar, he said that the localities of Mawlai will not need to depend on the GSWSS and it can be self-sufficient if the government is able to tap and preserve the various catchment and water sources in different parts of Mawlai.
Talking about the much-vaunted Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Mitri said, “In the past, we were losing the benefit of the MGNREGA and JJM since we had been under the Census Town scheme. But the 17 localities under Mawlai are benefiting from both MGNREGA and JJM now”.
He also expressed appreciation to Hima Mylliem for reclamation of the catchment area of around 70,000 square feet of Umsohlang stream at Lum Mawpat.
He said that the Syiem of Mylliem has provided the 17 landowners, who had land at the catchment areas, with an alternative land somewhere in Mawpat.
“We are hopeful to create a reservoir at the catchment area which would help during the dry season to ensure uninterrupted supply of potable water to the people,” Mitri added.
Meanwhile institutes such as the ICAR, IIPS and IBSD held several programmes to celebrate the World Environment Day.
The Indian Institute of Professional Studies (IIPS) in collaboration with NOMADS adventure Shillong and the Shillong Municipal Board held an event under the theme ‘Plogging’ — a concept that involves sports and picking rubbish at the same time.
During the event, the students were seen jogging through Dhankheti-Barik-State Central Library-Meghalaya High Court route and culminating in Police Bazar while picking up waste along the road at the same time.
The collected waste was later segregated into biodegradable, non- biodegradable and hazardous waste, which was then disposed of by the Shillong Municipal Board.
The ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, held a programme at the residential complex of the institute.
At the programme, the pledge taking ceremony by the staff of the institute was held, which was led by ICAR-RC-NEH Director Dr VK Mishra.
A procession was also taken out along with staff and family members for creating awareness among the public on the issue. The programme was concluded by planting of local tree saplings about 100 in number by the Director and staff of the institute.
Meanwhile, the Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Node Meghalaya, held a cleanliness and plantation drive with its staff to celebrate the day. Their theme was “Cleanliness drive: An Approach for Solution to Plastic Pollution.” It also organised a sensitisation programme on ‘Plastic-Free World’, in line with this year’s theme for World Environment Day.
Celebrating the occasion, the College of Agriculture, Kyrdemkulai, Meghalaya, 200 tree saplings were planted by as many participants including the faculty, staff, students of the institute, farmers of Lummynri village, Umshorshor village, Umdiker village and also schoolchildren of MeECL Secondary School, Kyrdemkulai.
The event was organised in association with the Mission LiFE movement to mobilise individuals to become ‘Pro-Planet People’, which was introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.
The participants also stood together and took a pledge.
Meanwhile, a rally was organised by Gaia Eco-Club of Shillong Commerce College on Saturday as part of the pre-World Environment Day celebration. The rally, which started from the college premises, saw the participation of around 80 people including members of the club, students and teachers.
The participants formed a procession, carrying banners, placards and posters with powerful slogans such as ‘Beat Plastic pollution’, ‘Say no to single-use plastics’ and ‘Clean up our Earth, it’s the only home we have’. The marchers proceeded through Ward’s Lake, Polo Market, Fourth Furlong, BK Bajoria School, and PGT College, attracting attention and engaging bystanders.
They also distributed saplings to the public.
On Monday, students and teachers of the college celebrated the occasion with fervour. Close to a hundred saplings were distributed and planted in the college campus with emphasis on ‘Go-Green’ and shunning anything plastic.
Joining others in celebration, the Shillong Law College IQAC Environment Committee in collaboration with the NSS Shillong Law College Unit organised a pledge ceremony, tree plantation drive, clean-pitch challenge, awareness programme on e-Waste Management Rules 2022 and ‘Best Out of Waste Practice’. Members from Meghalaya State Pollution Board, Mission LiFe, and Shillong My Passion were present.
The NSS unit of William Carey University, Meghalaya, on the other hand, celebrated the occasion in collaboration with the Department of Environment Management and Science and the Department of Social Work at Nongmensong and Diengpasoh village.
The NSS volunteers and students from the University planted 80 tree saplings at Diengpasoh village and Diengpasoh Upper Primary School campus in the presence of the principal and the school students. The youth group of the village was also present for the programme.
A total of 30 tree saplings were also planted in Nongmensong village. The students performed a role-play act to spread awareness on this year’s theme for World Environment Day, ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
The Art of Living joined hands with the Airport Authority of India to celebrate ‘Mission Green Earth’ at Shillong Airport on the occasion of World Environment Day. As many as 180 saplings, both medicinal and fruit plants, were plated in and around the airport premises as part of the celebration.
The plantation programme was held in the presence of Airport Director Rishikant Bangwal accompanied by his wife and other officials from the Airport Authority of India.
In a separate event, about 100 saplings of medicinal and fruit plants were planted in the cantonment premises in the presence of Ayush Maurya, CEO, Shillong Cantonment Board.
Another tree plantation drive was organised by the Art of Living with the students of Sri Sri Gyan Mandir, a free school run by the organisation in Garo Hills.
Also, the Student for Development (SFD) forum of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Meghalaya State, celebrated the occasion by organising plantation drives in the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo Hills regions. In Pynursla, East Khasi Hills, ABVP karyakartas held a tree plantation programme at Mawkliaw and Mawlam villages.
Also the tree plantation was conducted at Laitlyngkot village of Mylliem.
In Shillong, the tree plantation was organised at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and saplings were distributed among all the heads of different departments. In Jaintia Hills, SFD in-charge of Meghalaya, Nibiang Sumer along with Muthlong Committee, celebrated World Environment Day by conducting plantation drive. Around 35 tree saplings were planted by the students of Muthlong Pioneer Secondary School.
Similarly, in Tuber Kmaishnong village, a plantation drive was organised with the students of Seiñ Jait Tuber Higher Secondary School.
The district administration of Jowai too celebrated the occasion with a function at the Bishop’s House Lumbih Syntu Mihmyntdu, where West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner BS Sohliya was the chief guest.
At the function, attended by students and teachers of different schools in the district besides the dignitaries, certificates were distributed by the district administration to headmen, associations and other environmentalists of the district.
Meanwhile, the Society for Environment Protection and Sustainable Development (SEPSD) together with the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) Khliehtyrshi Area conducted a tree-plantation drive in Khliehtyrshi village, West Jaintia Hills.
In a bid to promote awareness on preserving the nature, identify the problems related to environment and take corrective measures, the BSF Meghalaya celebrated the day its troops taking a pledge to make all possible changes in their daily life to protect the environment and motivate others on the importance of environmental friendly habits.
Various plantation drives were carried out by the BSF in different BOPs.
Villagers of bordering area were also educated on the issue of environmental changes. The students of BSF Senior Secondary School participated in a cleanliness drive to make the school and its surrounding area plastic and litter free.