Assam: Government plans to allot lands for plant-your-own-tree space

Guwahati: With an aim to balance ecology with economy, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday that the government is planning to create plant-your-own-tree spaces throughout the state. He revealed the news as part of his New Year interaction with journalists yesterday. 

Acknowledging the importance of forests and the need for people to grow their "own plants", CM Sonowal informed that the government will soon come up with a project that involves identifying lands where people can go and plant a tree on their birthdays, anniversaries or special occasions. The practice of planting a sapling and then taking "period care" of it could prove to be quite relevant and useful to the people of the state, he added.

The Chief Minister informed that the government's project comes in line with the state government's larger project of creating 1000 tapovans (meditation forests) across Assam in the name of the famous personalities of Assam. He said that already enough progress has been made towards the goal of promoting biodiversity and preserving the state's ecology which are "key to our existence". Notably, 24 tapovans have neared their completion under the state government's initiative. 

The Chief Minister also expressed his concerns regarding global warming, which he termed as the "biggest challenge before humanity". Stating that no economy can be grown at the cost of ecology, he mentioned that a compromising position has to be reached between ecology and economy. 

On that note, CM Sonowal highlighted that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government has planted 8.5 crore trees in the state in the past four and half years. This include indigenous fruit and flowering plants, medicinal plants and herbs.

CM Sonowal said, "It is imperative that people are made aware of the importance of forest and environment. We have to make sure our forest survives to provide oxygen for survival. During the pandemic, we realised how important oxygen is."

Citing reports from the Forest Survey of India, he informed that Assam's forest cover increased by 222 square kilometres since 2016 which is when the BJP government came to power.

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