Manipur Forest Department on Wednesday celebrated the 69th Van Mahotsav across the State on Wednesday with plantation of several saplings to mark the occasion.
The State level celebration of the Van Mahotsav was held at St Joseph’s College in Ukhrul district in presence of Forest and Environment Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar, Phungyar Assembly Constituency MLA K Leishiyo, K Dickson, chairman, ADC Ukhrul, Fr Parvis, Principal, St. Joseph’s College and K Angami and top forest officials.
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Addressing the programme, Minister Shyamkumar said that forest officials of Ukhrul and ADC members would discuss for a roadside plantation programme apart from Avocado plantation in Ukhrul under the initiative of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department.
He also appealed for protection of the forest in the interest of the future generation. A booklet on achievements of the Forest Department was released as part of the function.
The district administration of Bishnupur has targetted to plant more than 10000 saplings in 17 different places including schools, playgrounds, roadsides and offices during the campaign with the help of social organizations, local bodies and institutions.
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The district administration also celebrated Van Mahotsav at Khoijuman Khullen, Oinam and Ngangkha Sabal, Moirang by planting saplings.
Chairman, Manipur Pollution Control Board and Oinam MLA L Radhakishore Singh, Moirang MLA P Sharatchandra Singh, DC Pawan Yadav, ADM Gojendro Singh, senior forest official DJN Anand, SP Bishnupur, Hopson Sapam and DFO RK Amarjit Singh, district level officers, Panchayat, ward members, forest department and civil society leaders were present at the tree plantation drives.
There are also reports of celebrating the Van Mahotsav at many parts of the State under different capacities.
It may be mentioned that Van Mahotsav, the festival of forests, is celebrated to create mass awareness on the importance of tree plantation by involving local people. It was launched in the year 1950 by Kanhaiyalal M Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food.