Week-long 72nd Van Mahotsav underway

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Along with the rest of the State, 72nd Van Mahotsav is underway in Dhemaji district with due programmes amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The week-long programmes of the event, initiated by Dhemaji District Forest Employees' Union, kick-started from Wednesday with the inaugural session organized at Sahitya Manishi Upavan, located at Simen Chapori under Telam Sub-Beat of the Dhemaji Forest Division.

The event was formally inaugurated by United Boro People's Organization (UBPO) president Manoranjan Basumatari by planting a sapling of an invaluable tree in the presence of GNSM general secretary Tolan Sonowal, Dhemaji UBPO general secretary Dipankar Narzary, popular vocal artiste Mousam Gogoi, and other dignitaries. In his speech, Manoranjan Basumatari explained the history and significance of the Van Mahotsav. It was followed by a public awareness meeting at Simen Chapori Forest Camp with Bhupen Deuri in the chair. The objective of the programme was explained by Hemchandra Payang, the assistant secretary of Dhemaji District Forest Employees; Association.

In the meeting, UBPO president Manoranjan Basumatari laid stress on generating massive awareness upon the importance of extensive plantation initiatives for the existence of human being and for the protection of biodiversity. On the other hand Forest Employees' Union vice-president Indra Gogoi called upon all to take pledge to make the Forest Department transparent and free of corruption by initiating due attempts from Dhemaji. A number of forest officers took part in the meeting.

On the other hand, extensive awareness campaigns, massive plantation drives, symposia on environment protection were also organized in various places of Dhemaji district on Thursday and Friday as part of the programmes of the 72nd Van Mahotsav. Such initiatives will continue till July 7, informed the organizing committee.

BAKSA: The week-long Van Mahotsav got underway with a plantation at the premises of Binapani High School, Thamna, near Baksa district headquarter Mushalpur on Thursday under the aegis of Baksa Forest Division and Batabari Range –Mushalpur as well as with the cooperation of Green Army (an NGO) and Binapani High School staff and students.

The programme started with distribution of tree saplings among students and plantation by Abdul Dewan, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF). He urged the department to carry on plantation and protection of plants with community participation. The ACF also informed that the observation of the 78th Van Mahotsav would conclude in Kumarikata Forest Division after daily plantation in various divisions.

Jitumoni Das, secretary of the NGO Green Army, urged youths to come forward for the protection of the environment. He deplored the growing involvement of some youths in illicit drugs trade. Kanak Kalita, Beat Officer, Mushalpur and Achyut Das, Headmaster of Binapani High School also took part in the plantation programme.

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