Tree planting, seminars mark World Environment Day in city
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Tree planting drives, seminars, on-the-spot slogan competitions etc., marked the World Environment Day observation in the city on Tuesday as residents, mostly students came forward to celebrate the event.
Going by the Environment Day theme for the year, viz. Green Economy: Does it include you?, saplings were planted in different parts of the city with educational institutions and various organisations leading the way. Hundreds of school and college going students participated enthusiastically in the event across the city.
“Living in a clean and better world will improve life for all of us, no matter where we live,” said AL Hek, Minister for Water Resources while speaking at a Environment Day observation at the Nongmengsong Presbyterian Lower and Upper Primary School.
Students of Sikkim Manipal University distributed plant saplings to passers-by at the Khyndailad junction. Shillong Commerce College marked the day by screening the poignant environment documentary show called Home arranged by the College’s Department of Environmental Studies followed by a cleanliness drive in the college campus.
The College of Teachers Education (PGT) celebrated by organising various programmes which included slogan competition, a talk on the theme and a tree plantation drive. Similarly, the KSU Mawlai circle observed the World Environment Day at Mawlai Umshingiar by planting tree saplings followed by a cleaning drive which saw participation from members of the Dorbar Shnong, residents and the KSU members of the circle.
The Partners of Pla Iew Club celebrated the event in a unique way.
The members of the club along with students from RITI Academy of Visual Arts painted a vehicle depicting various environmental issues in the state at the MUDA shopping complex.
Nicholas kharnami, President of the club said, “This vehicle will go to different parts of the state and create awareness on environmental degradation.”
Meanwhile, a two-day national seminar on Tourism-Economy and Environment in North East India organised by the North East India Council for Social Science Research kicked off in the city on Tuesday.
Speaking as the chief guest in the seminar which was in line with the World Environment Day celebrations, retired Professor of the Economics Department, Gauhati University, Prof K Alam said that the tourism in the region should be environment friendly.
“Tourism should not degrade environment,” he said while adding that government should refrain from making the region a concrete jungle for the sake of promoting tourism.”
Another seminar organised by the NERCORMP IFAD at the Shillong College dwelt on the sudden transformation of Shillong from a ‘Pine city’ to a ‘Dying city.’
“Over the past few years, we have encountered so many changes and development and most of them were against nature”, L Baite, managing director of NERCORMP IFAD said.
Baite stressed on the need to plant more trees stating that a contribution of a single tree having a lifespan of over 50 years can contribute immensely to the atmosphere.
The NEEPCO also observed the World Environment Day at its Corporate Office in Shillong.
Our Correspondents add from Jowai and Nongstoin
Along with the rest of the globe, hundreds of students of Nongtalang villages including Nongtalang Thymmai celebrated the World Environment on Tuessday.
The event was organised by the Ka Tylli I hun Ki Nongtalang Organisation jointly with the Office of the Diretorate of Schools Amlarem.
Students of various School, Lower Primary, Upper Primary and Secondary School were taken to the street in a march procession carrying playcards shouting different slogans to protect the envirionment.
Meanwhile, the KSU (West Khasi Hills District) led by its President John Fischer Nongsiang observed the World Environment Day by planting saplings at the District Hospital at Nongstoin.
Our correspondent adds from Tura and Baghmara
The Department of Forest & Environment, Social Forestry Division, West Garo Hills, Tura in collaboration with NSS Tura Government College and IPTAC, organized an awareness and tree planting programme on the occasion of World Environment Day today at Tura Government College keeping in tune with the theme ‘Green Economy; Does it include you’.
Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Pravin Bakshi was the chief guest on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Baghmara too observed the World Environment Day with an elaborate function organized Baghmara Don Bosco School.
Stressing on the need to protect and preserve the environment, T P Marak, MFS, urged the people gathered to take the pledge to stop traditional Jhum cultivation and cutting down of trees.
