TEZU, Jun 6: The World Environment Day was celebrated enthusiastically at Tezu by the Wildlife Institute of India, Anjaw unit & the Bamboosa Library, with several interesting activities targetting youth.
Presenting the issues related to the threats faced by environment due to reckless human activities, Pujan Pradhan, Research scholar, Wildlife Institute of India, explained the great health hazards posed by plastic waste polluting the entire mother earth – soil, water, sea and air getting contaminated with deadly poisons from plastic waste. He appealed to the students and the common people to keep in mind the good health and safety of future generations.
Speaking on what the people can do themselves to protect the environment of Lohit valley, which was once renowned for its fresh rivers, pure air and tasty organic vegetables, Sirumai Khusiali Kri, researcher WII, Anjaw, placed before the audience, many small activities they can practise themselves, keeping in mind 5 R’s (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle & reconnect). She also displayed a sturdy light garden stool, made of eco-bricks (empty water bottles filled with plastic waste), that can not only reduce plastic garbage but also substitute the expensive steel or wooden stools.
The Coordinator, Lohit Youth Library Network, in his brief intervention, spoke of the excellent work done by the Akshara Foundation, Guwahati in channelising plastic waste into educational support for rag pickers and slum dwellers.
On display at the venue were no-cost toys and teaching aids prepared by Tezu youth and a selection of winning entries of the WED painting contest conducted by Bamboosa Library. The Library also screened two delightful animation films on 3 R’s.
Timita Singkai, Sr teacher at Govt Hr Sec School No 2, gave away the prizes of the painting contest.
Daisy Kunwar and Trisha Kumari won the first prizes in the senior and junior categories respectively. Prizes for the Art workshop were awarded to Anushka Kumari, Sumitra Subba (seniors) and Ramakrishna Thakur & Mumna Pertin (juniors).
Moreover, the audience took a pledge to help care for environment, administered by the WII researchers.
LONGDING: The Nginu Village Students' Union led by its president Pangwang Wangsa organized a mass plantation drive to mark the World Environment Day celebration at the newly inaugurated Longchan circle in Longding district.
The plantation drive was done in collaboration with the village Panchayats led by ZPM Wangcho Wangsa. A first of its kind in the circle headquarters, the drive attracted a huge number of participants from various villages.
The main objective of the plantation drive was to raise awareness about the importance of tree plantation and its positive impact on the environment. The recent climate change and dying of streams witnessed by the villages and acute scarcity of drinking water in recent times, the Union came up with the initiative to create awareness among the people. A diverse range of native tree species were selected for the plantation drive and 500 saplings were planted. These trees were chosen based on their adaptability to the local climate and their ability to provide long-term benefits to the ecosystem.