Jorhat, Aug. 6: About 12km south of Jorhat town, the Jorhat-Titabor road bifurcates towards west to Kukrachua village at Jalukonibari point.
At the end of this nondescript village, the largest plantation drive in Upper Assam unfolded today with schoolchildren, villagers, army, CRPF, NCC, police and several NGO workers planting nearly 8,000 saplings to save Mother Earth from global warming.
"These trees are for our future generation so that they stay healthy in a clean and green atmosphere," chief minister Tarun Gogoi said while inaugurating the plantation drive on a 75- bigha plot, which once housed the largest fishery project in the district.
The plantation drive was launched under the chief minister's clean and green project - 'Mukhyamantrir Asomor Nirmal Aru Seuj Abhijan (MANASA) - which was kicked off early this year.
Over 1,000 children from nearby schools took part in the drive.
"Arrangements would be made so that names of the students written near the saplings they planted remain as it is even after the trees grow. It will create a bond between the students and the trees. The students will visit the place frequently to take care of the saplings," forest minister Atuwa Munda told The Telegraph .
Gogoi said already Rs 86 lakh had been sanctioned to beautify the area so that it could be turned into one of the major tourist destinations in the state. "We will also revive the fishery project. After a few years, anyone who wants to enjoy serenity and peace of nature would love to visit the place," he added.
The chief minister also said the government had been stressing on spreading awareness among the masses to plant trees.
He added that the government had launched MANASA to focus on cleanliness, sanitation and personal hygiene. "It shall be our endeavour to ensure a certain standard of cleanliness across all the towns and villages. Planting trees is the best way to keep the environment clean," he said.
Additional principal chief conservation of forest D. Haraprashad said it was the largest plantation drive in Upper Assam where the eco task force of the army, paramilitary forces, police, forest department, NGOs, local villagers and most importantly, schoolchildren had participated. "The main aim of the project is to involve the masses in the plantation drives, which have become the need of the hour. We have carried out such drives at Boko and Sarusajai earlier but this is the largest so far," Haraprashad said.
Commanding officer of the 119 CRPF Balram Behera said it was a different feeling to get involved in such a positive initiative. "It's good to see the involvement of schoolchildren," he said.Munda said about 26 varieties of saplings, mostly of fruit-bearing trees, were planted today at the site.
Class-IX student Akash Bora, who participated in the plantation drive, said he would visit the area to take care of the sapling he had planted. "It is sapling of a mango tree. I will take care of it till it bears fruits," he said.
