Pobitora, July 2: Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Thursday, participated in the plantation programme organised at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to mark the 77th Van Mahotsav, where he, along with local residents, Forest Department officials and other participants, planted 77 saplings. The occasion also witnessed the announcement of a series of transformative environmental initiatives aimed at expanding Assam’s green cover through large scale public participation.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to making environmental conservation a people’s movement and outlined several flagship initiatives that will be implemented across Assam in the coming months.
As part of the Amrit Brikshya Andolan, the Government will undertake a massive plantation drive from August 10 to 14, coinciding with the Independence Day celebrations, with the target of planting one crore saplings across the State. Around 10 lakh students, from Class 9 onwards, including college, engineering and medical students, will participate by planting 10 saplings each.
To ensure the long term survival of the plantations, every participating student will be assisted by a job card holder under the VB-G-RAM-G framework. Job card holders will receive an incentive of ₹1,500, equivalent to five days’ wages, in instalments, subject to the survival of at least 50 per cent of the planted saplings. This will also ensure livelihood opputunities for rural workers. Students who successfully maintain their plantations by uploading geo-tagged photographs will be awarded the ‘Briksha Bandhu’ Certificate in recognition of their contribution towards environmental conservation.
Minister Baruah also announced the launch of the ‘Phalbari’ initiative, under which one crore indigenous fruit saplings will be distributed across Assam from April next year. The programme seeks to revive traditional indigenous fruit species such as mango, jackfruit, leteku, paniyal, kordoi, kaji nemu etc. Nursery development for the initiative will commence from October this year. Besides strengthening biodiversity conservation, the initiative is expected to enhance long term food and nutritional security across the State.
In another significant initiative, every Forest Range in Assam will establish a ‘Janmadin Seuj Shopath’ (Birthday Garden), which will be inaugurated on July 7, the concluding day of Van Mahotsav. Citizens 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 for the programme.
Highlighting the Government’s focus on ecological restoration, Minister Baruah announced a new Char-Chapori Greening Initiative to restore the barren char and chapori areas of the Brahmaputra. As a pilot project, seed-ball technology will be aerially deployed using drones in selected char areas. Based on the outcome of the pilot project, the programme will be expanded across Assam on a larger scale.
Speaking addtionally on forest protection and enforcement, the Minister said the state wide crackdown against illegal sawmills is continuing in full swing. He informed that 40 to 60 illegal sawmills are being dismantled every day based on departmental action as well as public inputs. He further stated that all Range Officers and Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) have been directed to ensure the complete elimination of illegal sawmills within their respective jurisdictions and reiterated that officials would be held personally accountable if such illegal operations continue.
The Minister stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Government is committed to protecting Assam’s forests while encouraging active public participation in conservation efforts, thereby laying the foundation for a greener, healthier and more sustainable future for the State.