Tuesday, Jul 11, 2023 07:30 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Jul 11, 2023 02:01 [IST]
GANGTOK,: The Forest department on Monday held a plantation drive of more than 700 saplings at Kyongnosla area along JN Marg in East Sikkim as part of the ‘Santati Saptah - Mero Rukh Mero Santati’ campaign under Sikkim Paryavaran Parva.
Forest minister Karma Loday Bhutia along with senior Forest officials, Forest personnel, Army, GREF and local public took part in the plantation drive held at altitude of 10,400 ft.
On the occasion, seven parents planted saplings in the names of their newly born children under the ‘Mero Rukh, Mero Santati’ campaign of the Sikkim government. They were provided with a certificate of participation.
Speaking with the media, the Forest minister informed that mostly rhododendron saplings were planted considering the high altitude location.
The ‘Santati Saptah’ campaign is for a week starting July 7.
“The Chief Minister’s green initiative has been appreciated across the nation. We want to make Sikkim a Green State. We are carbon neutral already and our aim is to make the State carbon negative,” said Bhutia.
The environmental protection programmes taken by the State government is to meet the challenges induced by climate warming and global warming, said the Forest minister. He appealed to every individual to contribute towards environment protection.
“On July 12, we have decided to avoid using vehicles to reach our offices. The Forest department employees and officials have decided to walk to their offices that day. We appeal to others also to avoid using vehicles on July 12 and contribute towards the environment by joining this initiative,” said Bhutia.
During the programme, a skit was performed along with a song on ‘Mero Rukh, Mero Santati’.
