Take up plantation as service to society : Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal

Morigaon, July 7: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged the people of the state to take up plantation as a service to the society. The Chief Minister while attending the 69th Ban Mahotsav celebration at Silchang in Morigaon district today also called upon the people to take up plantation as a humanitarian cause and plant maximum saplings within the compound of their Houses. The state level Ban Mahotsav celebration which started on July 1 and ended on July 7, was organised by the Environment and Forest Department, Government of Assam. This has been stated in a press release.

Stating that human existence will survive only if the Bio-diversity is maintained, the Chief Minister said that plantation of trees is of paramount importance for maintaining the balance of environment and stimulating growth of sustainable economy. He said that the State government has set a target of planting 10 crore saplings every year for increasing the forest cover of the state and already 4.5 crore saplings have been planted this year.

The Chief Minister said that the green forest cover and rich bio diversity of the state draws large numbers of tourists from different parts of the world to Assam and this significantly contributes to the state’s economy. He further urged the people to maintain the forest cover so that the state continues to attract tourists in future also.

State Minister of Forest Naba Kumar Doley and Minister of State for Town and Country Planning Pijush Hazarika also attended the function. Synchronising with the occasion, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal felicitated three forest guards in recognition to their outstanding services towards protection of forests. Coinciding with the 69th Ban Mahotsav Chief Minister Sonowal inaugurated the newly renovated ‘The Grand Hornbill Park’ at Dharamtul in Morigaon district earlier today. The park is an initiative taken up by the state forest department under Assam Project on Forest and Bio-diversity conservation society, the release added.