Guwahati, June 05 (NKTV): Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma today attended the World Environment Day programme at Gandhi Mandap in Guwahati and planted 11 Rudraksh saplings. He urged all sections of the society to contribute towards environment protection following Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of cleanliness.
Speaking on the occasion, he informed about state government’s decision to upgrade Raimona Reserve Forest under Kochugaon forest block in BTR to a National Park apart from ongoing process to make Dehing Patkai a National Park. “This would be sixth National Park in the state and would be great step towards protection and preservation of rich bio-diversity in the area” he said.
Sarma also informed that the Science & Technology Department of the state government would be rechristened as Department of Science, Technology and Climate Change from today to bring climate protection into focus of government planning and action.
Lauding the Forest and Environment Department for its relentless efforts which resulted in the reforestation of 10 thousand hectares of land in the state, the CM elaborated on various activities undertaken by the department to increase forest cover. He also said that 28 bio-diversity parks named ‘Sahitya Manishi Upaban’ are being set up in 28 districts across the state.
Sarma has also directed the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) to bring various memorabilia of Mahatma Gandhi and showcase them at Gandhi Mandap to make the young generation aware about the life and teachings of the father of the nation.
Later, the CM took part in the programme organised by Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) at its garage campus at Basistha in the city and distributed 12 garbage clearing auto tippers to NGOs engaged in garbage collection in the GMC wards in the city. He also informed that 100 such auto tippers would be distributed in the first phase and hoped that these tippers would greatly augment the garbage disposal system while helping in keeping Guwahati clean.
GDD Minister Ashok Singhal and other senior officers were present at both the programmes.