By Our Special Correspondent
carriers, flasks etc., to Wahniangleng Rangbah Shnong, on Sunday.
SHILLONG, July 15: Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), was launched by Prime Minister Modi in 2022 in the presence of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, in Gujarat. The project was first proposed by the Prime Minister at COP 26. Mission LiFE is envisioned as an India-led global mass movement that will nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment.
The Union Ministry for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is expected to take this Mission forward, which also aims at reversing climate change. The Mission is also intended to create ‘Pro Planet People – 3 Ps’ and functions on the basic principles of ‘Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet, and by the planet’.
In line with this Mission, the Shillong-based office of the MoEF&CC North Eastern Region, led by Deputy Director General (DDG) Imtienla Ao, on Sunday, organised a tree plantation programme around Wahniangleng, the reservoir that feeds the Mawphlang dam, which supplies water to the Greater Shillong area and is accessible from 12th Mile Mylliem. This place has now become a major tourist attraction because of the challenging Bull’s Trek. Teaming up with the MoEF&CC was the team from Operation Clean-Up besides the Rangbah Shnong of Wahniangleng, Khlur Sing Nongkhlaw, and Secretary Shnong, Kyntiew Nongkhlaw.
Wahniangleng is noted for its cleanliness, and this has been possible because of a group of children from the village (environmental warriors) who pick up the trash that tourists leave behind.
Ao lauded the efforts of the village to retain its pristine nature and distributed materials such as gloves, T-shirts, cloth bags, steel flasks, umbrellas, among others, which are aimed at reducing the use of plastics, which are the biggest threat to the environment. She encouraged the children to conserve their environment because this village belongs to them. She also stated that Mission Life has 7 action plans, but one of them, which she considers important, is to “Plant a tree in your mother’s name.” Ao also stated that if each person were to plant and nurture a tree, the planet would be rejuvenated.
Varielyn Saio, a scientist, explained to the young environmental warriors each of the seven action points of Mission Life including turning off taps when done to conserve water; using cloth bags instead of plastic bags; reusing clothes; composting wet waste at the household level, etc.
Jiwat Vaswani, vice captain of the Operation Clean-Up (OCU) team, said he was glad to see that the number of children who have joined the environmental warriors group has increased from 5-6 to about 30 today. He urged these children to take charge of their village and not allow rampant felling of trees or any action that has the potential to harm the environment.
All the children present planted one fruit tree each and were told that their names would be put up against each tree, along with the names of their mothers. The fruit trees were donated by Jiva Cares.
Also present at the event were young volunteers from Jiva Cares and the Col Sishupal Security Company (CSSC), led by their team leader, Manish Sharma. These young men did the hard work of trekking up and down the Bull’s Trek, carrying the planting implements, plotting where the trees would be planted, and digging up the ground where the trees were planted.
It may be mentioned that the Wahniangleng trek is run by a society led by Pynshai Sing Lyngdoh Mawlong, with Lening K Bareh as an advisor.
The society has done an admirable job of keeping the entire area spick and span. What they would need to plan better is how to restrict the large number of visitors, especially on weekends, which could lead to overcrowding. Seasoned tourists feel that the place should not be too accessible and that tourists should book their trips there online. Additionally, trained tourist guides should be available to explain the importance of the place to visitors.