MORIGAON : The Assam government will undertake a massive drive to plant 1 crore saplings across the state between August 10 and 14 as part of the Independence Day celebrations, Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Thursday.
Baruah made the announcement after participating in a plantation programme at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to mark the 77th Van Mahotsav. He, along with local residents, forest officials and others, planted 77 saplings on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the minister said the plantation campaign would be carried out under the ‘Amrit Brikshya Andolan’, with around 10 lakh students from class 9 onwards, including those pursuing higher, engineering and medical education, participating in the drive.
“Each participating student will plant 10 saplings, taking the total target to 1 crore saplings across the state,” Baruah said.
To ensure the survival of the saplings, each student will be assisted by a job card holder under the VB-GRAM-G scheme.
“Job card holders will receive an incentive of Rs 1,500, equivalent to five days’ wages, in instalments, provided at least 50 per cent of the saplings survive. This will not only improve the survival rate of the saplings but also generate livelihood opportunities for rural workers,” he said.
Students who successfully maintain the saplings by uploading geo-tagged photographs will be awarded the ‘Briksha Bandhu’ certificate in recognition of their contribution to environmental conservation, he added.
Baruah also announced the launch of the ‘Phalbari’ initiative, under which 1 crore indigenous fruit saplings will be distributed across the state from April next year.
The initiative aims to revive traditional fruit species such as mango, jackfruit, leteku (Burmese grape), paniyal (Indian coffee plum), kordoi (star fruit), and kaji nemu (lemon).
“Nursery development for the programme will begin in October this year. Besides strengthening biodiversity, the initiative is expected to improve long-term food and nutritional security in the state,” he said.
The minister further announced that every forest range in Assam will establish a ‘Janmadin Seuj Shopath’, which will be inaugurated on July 7, the concluding day of Van Mahotsav.
Under the initiative, people will be encouraged to celebrate their birthdays by planting a tree and taking a pledge to protect the environment. An online portal will also be launched to facilitate advance booking of saplings.
Baruah also unveiled a ‘Char-Chapori’ Greening Initiative aimed at restoring the barren char and chapori areas along the Brahmaputra.
“As a pilot project, seed balls will be aerially dispersed using drones in selected char areas. Based on the outcome, the programme will be expanded across the state,” he said.
The minister said the state government’s crackdown on illegal sawmills was continuing.
“Between 40 and 60 illegal sawmills are being dismantled every day based on departmental action and public inputs,” he said.
Baruah said all Range Officers and Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) had been directed to ensure the complete elimination of illegal sawmills within their jurisdictions and warned that officials would be held personally accountable if such operations continued. (Source: PTI)
