Shillong/Nongpoh/Resubelpara/Tura
Meghalaya Pollution Control Board will soon implement the ‘Say No’ to single use plastic in state. This was informed by East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo at the World Environment Day programme on Monday.
Speaking at the event as chief guest, Laloo has also urged the students to inculcate the habit of saying no to single use plastic, which is detrimental to the environment. She also stressed on the need for scientific waste disposal management, which would reduce the impact on the environment.
The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, District Project Management Unit (DPMU) and Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) organised a programme in observation of Environment Day at Don Bosco Hall, Laitumkhrah.
Laloo also lauded the efforts of all stakeholders who had taken part in a series of environmental activities throughout the week to commemorate the Meghalaya Environment Week launched by the government for the year 2022. Appreciating the active participation of school students in the various competitions organised by the office, she emphasised that the knowledge and awareness expressed by the school students through various mediums is vital as they are the future.
“Environment Day is not to be celebrated only one day in a year rather we should make a commitment in celebrating Environment Day every day,” she said.
The district administration has come up with policies and ideas to involve the communities, schools, colleges, religious leaders in creating awareness and carry out activities which will benefit the environment.
She also expressed hope that the participants in the programme will sensitise and pass on the message to others about the active participation of each of us in keeping the environment clean and safe. She exhorted that only the government initiatives are not enough to protect the environment but a collective effort by each individual is the need of the hour.
Smti Laloo also stated that development comes at the cost of the environment and the theme for this year’s Environment Day Only One Earth “Living Sustainably in Harmony with nature”, aims to ensure that development goes hand in hand with a sustainable and healthy environment.
During the day the chief guest also handed awards and certificates to the winners of the drawing competition, essay writing competition and debate competition. The deputy commissioner also awarded the Top 3 Best Performing Villages from Community Led Landscape Management Project (CLLMP) and Meghalaya Livelihood and Access to Market Project (MLAMP).
The Hindi Catholic Community (HCC), under the Mary Help of Christians Parish, Shillong, joined the state government in celebrating the Meghalaya Environment Week and the world in celebrating the World Environment Day at Pastoral Centre.
Around 200 community members were present and planted trees.
Individuals from the community have adopted all these plants for next 3 years to ensure 100 per cent survival.
Rev. Fr. A.L Jose, SDB, Rector of Pastoral Center also assured of proper care to the plants. T. Jude Xalxo, the Secretary of HCC and Dy. Project Director, MBMA, said, “The community believes that the Mother Nature provides humanity with food, water and air, all free of cost, the existential requirements of human life; as such, taking care of mother nature is our primary duty.”
Dinet Manik Syiem Higher Secondary School organised a World Environment celebration at Laitkor, East Khasi Hills, with an aim to create awareness regarding the impact of deforestation on mother earth and how corrective measures could bridge the gap.
Teachers and students from Eriben Presbyterian Secondary School and St Ferrando Secondary School also took part in the tree plantation drive wherein around 200 saplings were planted around Laitkor Nongdaneng.
A small programme was held at Hollywood hall, the principal of Dinet Manik Syiem Drimsibon Kharkongor spoke at length on the ‘Only One Earth’ theme. A short play dubbed ‘Save Trees’ was enacted by students.
As part of the Meghalaya Environment Week celebration, the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) has organised a 4-day long event to celebrate the World Environment Day, which concluded on Monday in Ri Bhoi district.
Various schools from the district took part in several competitions that was organised by the Meghalaya Community Led Landscape Management Project (MCLLMP), JICA and Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (Megha-LAMP).
The closing ceremony event was held at District Library, Nongpoh on Monday which was attended by MLA Mayralborn Syiem as the chief guest in the presence of the Additional Deputy Commissioner M. Tongper.
The event witnesses a series of competitions and shows.
A series of programmes took place in Garo Hills to spread the message of environmental protection to the general masses.
At Selsella tree plantation drives were taken up at Narangbari Playground with Ferlin C. A Sangma, MLA of Selsella Constituency and Chairperson Meghalaya State Council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development participating alongside village headmen or Nokmas, Presidents and Secretaries of Village Employment Councils, Village elders, Students and NGOs.
Acknowledging the outstanding achievement of winning the 3rd prize in the category of Best Village Panchayat- North East Zone at the 3rd National Water Awards held in New Delhi which was awarded by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Selsella legislator said that the achievement is indeed an exemplary accomplishment.
On the occasion, legislator F. C. A Sangma felicitated Chambagre VEC with a certificate and cash award of Rs. 10,000.
The Social Forestry Division of West Garo Hills also organised a special tree plantation drive at the scenic Chibragre picnic cum tourism site, 18 kms from Tura.
Under the theme, “Only One Earth” the event was held at next door St. John’s Secondary School, Chibragre, with North Tura MLA and Advisor to the Chief Minister, Thomas A Sangma joining the plantation drive.
Chief Conservator of Forest, Social Forestry, Garo Hills region, S.N. Sangma, warned the gathering at Chibragre about the effects of coal mining, industrialisation, cruelty to nature and others, which produce excess carbon-dioxide and urged the people to plant more trees which will absorb excess carbon-dioxide. He also said that doing more harm to nature will bring more suffering to human beings.
In Baghmara events commemorating World Environment Day were organised by the Social Forestry and Territorial Division jointly with the district administration.
In the programme organised at Government Higher Secondary School, Baghmara, the Chairman of Meghalaya Health Advisory Board and MLA of Rongara-Siju Constituency Rakkam A Sangma lauded and encouraged the younger folks to actively take part in such competition.
As part of the Meghalaya Environment Week, World Environment Day was observed at MFC Bakrapara in Resubelpara, North Garo Hills on Monday.
Various activities were held to mark the week-long event with mass tree plantation at different areas of the district led by different departments, cleanliness awareness programme that aimed to generate awareness on cleanliness under Chief Minister’s Youth for Green Campaign Movement, drawing, debates and essay writing competition for students on environmental theme were some of the highlights of the programme.
Addressing the occasion as the chief guest, North Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner R. P Marak spoke on environmental issues and urged the students, members of SHGs, village leaders and district officials to reaffirm their pledge towards preserving, protecting and conserving the environment.
During the programme, a skit on protection of environment performed by students of Paschal Secondary School, Resubelpara, portrayed a relevant message on the importance of environment conservation.
The day was also celebrated at Mendipathar College which was being designated as green model polling station by the election department.
Others who spoke during the programme were ADC, ZJ Sangma, Pastor S. G Momin, Resubelpara Baptist Church and Fr. Principal Paschal Secondary School.