Assam: AI-based system will monitor deforestation attempts, says CM Himanta

129 vehicles flagged off; arms given to Forest force

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that Assam now has an AI-based system which will allow the Forest Department to respond immediately when any attempt of deforestation is made. This will enable the department to effectively stop deforestation and save the state’s green cover.

This was stated by the Chief Minister today at the World Environment Day event held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra. During the event, he flagged off 129 vehicles allocated to the Forest and Environment Department to support ongoing environmental protection efforts. He also launched a dedicated web portal and distributed sophisticated arms to the commandos of three battalions of the Assam Forest Protection Force.

The Chief Minister further informed that the newly launched portal, supported by artificial intelligence and satellite technology, would enable real-time monitoring of deforestation and forest land degradation, allowing for timely interventions. He highlighted that since the current government assumed office, a third battalion of the Forest Protection Force was constituted, and arms were distributed to the unit to enhance its operational capacity.

Speaking to the media, CM Dr Sarma also noted that Assam, in line with global observance, is marking World Environment Day today. He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal encouraging citizens to plant a sapling in the name of their mother and stated that a portal has been launched to facilitate this initiative.

Addressing the earlier lack of vehicles in various forest ranges and divisions, he stated that the state government had flagged off 129 vehicles today and would procure additional ones for territorial ranges to support field operations more effectively.

Regarding plastic waste management, the CM stated that the Government of India is working towards the ban on single-use plastics, and the Assam Government would implement related measures accordingly. He mentioned that approximately 600 mineral water bottling units have been set up by the youth of the state and said that the state government has enforced a ban on 500 ml water bottles, whereas the target was to ban plastic water bottles up to 1 litre capacity. But, after youths owning local water bottling units requested him not to do so, as it would lead to their industries suffering, the CM revised the order to restrict the ban to 500 ml bottles, for the time being .

Additionally, he said that the Assam Government, in collaboration with Oil India, is working to establish biofuel production units in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Silchar, Tezpur, and Guwahati. He added that plastic waste would be collected and supplied to these units for biofuel generation, which is expected to significantly contribute to waste reduction.

 Also Read: Assam University Launches Awareness Drive Amid Rising Poaching And Deforestation Concerns

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