City institution’s message to citizens to keep golf links clean

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, May 5: Although emblematic, yet it is a strong educatiol and spiritual message to the citizens to keep the majestic Shillong golf links clean was given by the students of Sacred Heart Theological College and Sacred Heart School on World Environment Day.  

Taking cognizance of the haphazard defilation by the public on the lush golf links which is a landmark of Shillong city, the sacred heart theologians as well as the school students took upon themselves to start this noble gesture to enlighten the people to preserve and keep the lush greens clean. They used World Environment Day as an occasion to reach the city denizens who used every weekend as a place of joy and merriment and leave behind all the

The initiator of this symbolic move, Father Barness Mawrie told The Sentinel on Monday: “Our symbolic deeds on this tourist signpost of our city will not end up here because we took our student volunteers to further up the awareness by virtue of their outreach to everyone they know.”

“Not only our students, the spiritual aspect of living up with the advocacy of our holy father-Pope Francis to keep our environment clean is another portion of it that we wanted to imbibe upon by the faithful,” stated father Mawrie, adding, “our actions at the landmark is a symbol that all abuse of our environment and surroundings should not be tolerated.”

Principal of Sacred Heart girls Higher Secondary School, Sister Lydia Pala took pride of having 250 odd of her students volunteering to clean the famous golf course that has stood the ravage of times. “This time it is Golf Links but our students have always been involved in carrying similar exercise outside the periphery of the school campus,” stated Sister Pala.

In line to the theme of World Environment Day, GVK EMRI Meghalaya carried out a pledge taking sigture campaign. A huge positive response was seen from the citizens of the state to create awareness to safeguard our planet Earth. The SP East Khasi Hills Shri Davis N Marak with his team from SP office also took part in the campaign. GVK EMRI also installed Bamboo Bins to GO Green and keep the city clean along Wards Lake Bus stops from State Central Library to Police Bazaar.

The North East Police Academy (NEPA) - a premier training institute in the Country for police training - take pride in maintaining eco-friendly campus and tree plantation is a continuous process in NEPA.  In order to protect and preserve the flora & fau and to nurture the trees in NEPA Campus, Shramdan (cleaning drive) is being organised regularly.   Various kinds of saplings numbering 3000 were planted in the Campus.   Such a tree plantation drive was conducted on the guidance of Shri N K Gurung, Additiol Director NEPA, keeping in view the alarming issue of global warming and to counter the land-slides, deforestation, etc. and to maintain an eco-friendly campus for police trainee officers.

The people of South West Garo Hills converged at Ampati Multi-Facility Centre on Monday to join in the celebration of World Environment Day, 2017, where the Government Chief Whip, W.D. Sangma as the chief guest led the gathering in taking the Green Pledge in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Cyril V.D. Diengdoh, Superintendent of Police, Bobby W. Momin, district officials, nokmas, local leaders, green volunteers, teachers and students.

The day’s celebration under the theme “Connecting People With ture”, was organized by Basin Development Unit (BDU) South West Garo Hills in collaboration with the line departments and was marked by plantation of saplings, felicitation of individuals, farmers’ groups and green volunteers with the best green initiatives in their respective villages and distribution of prizes to winners of various competitions organized during the run-up to the celebration, including the “Connect with ture” Run which was organized earlier in the morning.

During the celebration, WD Sangma distributed saplings to the nokmas/heads of villages for plantation in their respective villages and also handed out the copies of Eco-Club Charter to the Eco-clubs which were launched in various schools of the district as part of the celebration.

While addressing the gathering on the occasion, WD Sangma reminded the people about their responsibilities as guardians of ture and gave a clarion call for every individual to do their bit to protect the environment around them and make a contribution in addressing the adverse effects of climate change. He also urged upon all concerned to follow up on every tree that were being planted to ensure sustaibility.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, a Tree Plantation Programme was organised by Babelapara Baptist Church at Jarangko.