ITANAGAR, Jun 5: The World Environment Day was celebrated across Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday with various programmes and plantation drives carried out to raise awareness about the environment.
Governor Brig. (Dr.) B.D. Mishra (Retd.) and the First Lady of the State Neelam Misra participated in the World Environment Day celebration with the school children as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at Oju Mission School, Papu Nallah, Naharalgun.
The Governor, while planting a sapling in the school campus said that each child should plant a sapling and tend it. He said that there is a need for a change of mindset towards nature for perfect balance between ecology and development. Every citizen must imbibe the mantra to leave this planet in better state and shape than what he or she has inherited from the forebears by wisely ensuring a cleaner, greener and nature compatible lifestyle.
The Governor appealed to the people of the State, especially the students and youth to plant as many saplings as possible to make Arunachal Pradesh a better place for the posterity to live.   
The Governor, who was impressed by the initiatives of Oju Welfare Association in providing educational and livelihood opportunities for the underprivileged and rescued children in the State. He complimented the NGO and assured all help from the Raj Bhavan and the State Government for their sustenance.
Appreciating the State Government for providing funds for school building, the Governor promised to make a children park with play items for physical activities of the children, many of whom have come through traumatized childhood.
Pained to learn that the intake capacity of the institute has been reduced due to lack of infrastructure, the Governor assured Oju Mission School for trying to get them a hostel block through Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR). For proper development of the school premises, the Governor asked the school administration to get a master plan drawn by a competent architect.
Earlier, the Governor and the First Lady of the State interacted with the children from Puroik Community and orphans from districts affected by insurgency. They encouraged the children to study hard and become good citizens. They also interacted with alumni of Oju Mission School. 
The Chief Electoral Officer Padmini Singla, along with colleagues planted saplings in the office premises on the occasion. Tree plantation was also carried out by all District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Booth Level Officers across the State in sync with the tree plantation programme of the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India at the premises of India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), Dwarka, Delhi. 
Singla informed that the initiative of Election Commission of India of having the plantation drive on World Environment Day starting from the ECI Office to down to the level of Polling Booth is going to be a great contribution to the cause of environment.
The effort of the Election Commission of India is to make elections and related infrastructure more eco-friendly. In this regard, ECI has taken initiatives like digitization of various processes like online facilitation for registration of voters; Apps like Voter helpline App, SUVIDHA portal; eVigil; e-EPIC; PwD App; Voter Turnout App; online nomination facility for candidates, avoiding single use plastic in display materials for voter awareness and ensuring proper waste disposal management to ensure environment friendly elections.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Arunachal Pradesh have implemented e-Office and is now paperless. Today, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer has been declared Single Use Plastic Free Zone. Request have been made to the Director, APEDA, Itanagar to check the feasibility to convert the office of the CEO to solar light. The CEO have directed all the DEOs, EROs and AEROs to declare their offices Single Use Plastic Free Zone and convert their offices to solar power.
The Department of Environment and Forest in collaboration with Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) held a mass plantation drive which was also participated by Minister, Environment & Forest Mama Natung, Mayor Tame Phassang including Corporators.
Speaking on the occasion, Phassang urged the denizens to cooperate with the IMC in making the state capital Clean & Green. 'We should not wait for a particular day or any occasion, but we should follow minimum civic sense and be conscientious to keep the city clean & green," he said.
Extending gratitude to the Minister, Police, Administration and students for participating in the event despite incessant rain, Mayor stated ‘unless there is public participation, it would not be possible for IMC alone to keep a hygienic environment in the city. Itanagar is the face of the state, so we should join hands to make it beautiful.'
Addressing the gathering, Minister Mama Natung urged everyone to plant trees wherever and whenever they can. He also appreciated the team IMC and students for participating in the plantation drive. Expressing concern over global warming, Minister said “It’s high time to give back to nature by planting trees, and keeping our environment safe from all kinds of pollution."
Among others, Commissioner-IMC, Officers from the Department of Forest, Superintendent of Police –ICR and other officials also participated in the mass plantation drive.
Meanwhile, the Mayor and Minister of Environment also attended a plantation drive at CRPF Camp including an awareness program organized by Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development North Eastern Region, Arunachal Unit in collaboration with Opu Aama Society and Nehru Yuva Kendra at Vivek vihar, Itanagar.
ZIRO: Along with the rest of the country, World Environmental Day was observed in the  entire Lower Subansiri District.
DEO Somcha Lowang along with the EROs and AEROs planted saplings in the DEOs office compound. The BLOs also planted saplings in their respective polling stations.
Similar plantation drives were carried out by all the HoDs in their respective compounds.
The PHED ,Ziro Division led by Nich Raju, Executive Engineer carried out a cleanliness drive at the Water Treatment Plant at Dutta village which was followed by tree plantation program.
Lower Subansiri Police led by Tasi Darang also planted around 100 saplings. The police personnel also pledged to take care of the saplings. 
Students and faculty members of the St. Claret College also carried out tree plantation at the college campus.
The Ziro Valley School conducted a mass tree plantation program at its premises.
Er Tage Taki, Minister, AHAVDF,  who graced the program as chief guest encouraged the students and staff to protect the environment and practice sustainable living and environmentally friendly development.
Rubu Tadii, Chairman, Ziro Valley Charity Mission Society also requested the school community to keep the school campus hygienic and green through planting trees.
YUPIA: The DEO-Cum- Deputy Commissioner Sachin Rana,  participated in a plantation drive and administered ‘Single Use Plastic free Zone’ pledge to all the members of the DEO office Papum Pare.
The DC also briefly highlighted the importance of the day and the need for conserving natural environment for future generations and for sustainable development. He also spoke about impact of single use plastics and urged that all should try to reuse and recycle single plastic to save our beautiful environment.  
As per directions of DEO, mass plantation drive and pledge for ‘Single Use Plastic Free Zone’ was carried out in all EROs 13-Itangar, 14- Doimukh, and 15-Sagalee, AEROs offices at Kimin, Kakoi, Doimukh, Mengio, Tarasso, Gumto, Leporiang, Parang and 7 polling stations by BLOs under Doimukh circle respectively.
To mark the day, mass tree plantation and awareness campaign on environment and single use plastic free zone   was also carried out at all government offices, health facilities and educational institutions within Papum Pare district.
RAGA: World Environment Day was celebrated at Yada area in Raga the District Headquarters of Kamle District by Hapoli Forest Division. During the programme many ornamental plant species were planted along the PMGSY Road at Yada area wherein the offices of DC, SP, and many other officers are located.
Attending the programme, MLA Raga, Tarin Dakpe highlighted the importance of the environment and the need to preserve it. Collaboration of all stakeholders including PRI leaders and public is necessary for the preservation of the environment, he said.
The DFO, Hapoli, Abhinav Kumar stated that Kamle District contains large area of Very Dense Forest (VDF) which needs to be strongly preserved so that ecosystem services especially the provision of water in seasonal and perennial streams of the region are available for the coming generations. SP, Kamle, ZPM, Raga, RFO Raga and all the HoDs of Kamle District participated in the plantation programme.
Later on the MLA inspected the under construction new DC, SP and ADC bungalows and also inspected the District Hospital and the progress of the site development for Mini Secretariat and the water treatment plant site for Raga Town. He also inspected the construction activities for extension of ADC office for DC office at Yada.
TAWANG: Tawang District today observed World Environment by conducting plantation and cleanliness drives from Mago to Jemeithang covering entire district. Alongwith local public the Indian Army and para military personnel also took active part in the plantation and cleanliness drives. 
All the Booth level officers,AEROs,EROs participated in plantation drives with students and teachers at respective polling booths and schools.
DC Tawang and other officers later joined the students, and SSB personnel  in the plantation drive organised by Monpa Mimang Tsogpa(MMT) near Tawang monastery.
DC Tawang Kesang Ngurup Damo, in his address stressed for mission clean and pollution free green mountains,and asked to take care of the plants that has been planted, advised children to work hard and prepare themselves for competitions in life and to be sincere in their studies.
Yingkiong: World Environment Day was observed by District Administration, Upper Siang District by carrying out plantation drives of different species of seedlings in various parts of Yingkiong Township. The occasion was participated by government officials and public.
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), cell of NERIST by planting saplings of various tree species at its campus. On the occasion, Prof. Lingfa, RCI, NERIST briefly stated the importance of tree plantation as an essential tool to reduce the impact of global warming and climate change on human society and various ecosystems, and encouraged to make the campus clean and green for a healthy working environment.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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