mother earth
Representative image. Courtesy: teepublic.com

Sikkim has decided to dedicate a day to the earth with environment friendly activities to address the climate change.

Sikkim Government has decided to observe July 7 every year as ‘A Day for Mother Earth’ from this year onwards.

The day is also coinciding with the closing day of the nation-wide Van Mahotsav Week that is taking place from July 1 to 7.

Addressing a press conference at Forest Secretariat in Gangtok on Tuesday, the minister for Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Karma Loday Bhutia, mentioned that Sikkim Government has come up with a noble idea to dedicate July 7 of every year as ‘A Day for Mother Earth’.

He added that this day will be a permanent feature of the State government.

“A Day for Mother Earth is a wider initiative of the present government involving environment friendly activities to address the climate change.”

The minister mentioned that it has been decided to observe ‘No Vehicle Plying’ for seven minutes on July 7 at 11 AM throughout the State.

He said it was known fact that vehicular pollution releasing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of sulphur and nitrogen contributes to greenhouse gas effect and thus global warming.

He added that the main objective of this endeavour was to contribute towards Nationally Determined Contributions and Sustainable Development Goals for positive climate action.

However, he informed that all emergency and essential service vehicles will continue with its services.

Bhutia appealed the driving community and people of Sikkim to cooperate in this endeavour of the government to reduce the carbon emission.

He mentioned that the day will be celebrated in the state-level with zest and fervour with plantation and other environment friendly activities.

Sagar Chhetri is Northeast Now Correspondent in Gangtok. He can be reached at: [email protected]