10 mins, 6 lakhs saplings target on July 15 This will be Sikkim’s gift to the world:
GANGTOK, July 08: It does not get bigger than this in terms of public participation.
Further reinforcing its image as a green State, the Sikkim government will be attempting to find a place in the environmental record books by planting 6 lakh saplings in mere ten minutes in all parts of the State on July 15.
The mission christened as ‘Ten Minutes to Greenery’ follows Chief Minister’s directions to the State forest department to launch measures for cementing the love of nature among the Sikkimese people by planting tree saplings.
“The Chief Minister has announced that Sikkim government will be observing ‘Ten minutes to Greenery’ on July 15 at 10:30 am where the entire six lakhs population of Sikkim have been appealed to participate and plant at least one sapling of any tree species or flowering plants each in any place of their choice”, said State forest minister Bhim Dungel in a press meet today here at the conference hall of Tashiling Secretariat.
Sikkim with 7096 sq kms territory has around 6 lakhs population which includes army and paramilitary personnel based in this strategic border State.
“This programme based on the Chief Minister’s vision is very timely and will further inspire our Sikkimese people towards environment protection and conservation. This is the gift of the Sikkim government to the world and we will observe this programme every year”, said Mr. Dungel.
As per the proposed ‘Ten minutes to Greenery’ mission, the State government has decided to carry out plantation in all towns, villages, office premises, public premises, school compounds, premise of government offices of both State and Central governments, public sector undertakings, premises of Army and paramilitary forces and private lands of individuals so that every individual participates in this unique programme. The programme will be made an annual event.
“We want the youths, students, elected representatives, journalists, businessmen, social organizations and other members to take a key role in this programme. This is a common programme of the Sikkimese people”, said Mr. Dungel.
The Chief Minister’s Press Advisor Bhim Dahal said that Sikkim has already established itself in environmental security and the latest initiative ‘Ten minutes to Greenery’ is a path breaking decision of the Chief Minister.
The forest department has already segregated vacant lands in urban areas for the public to plant the saplings. The department will be providing saplings as per the conditions of the area where planting drive is to take place.
The concept of planting 6 lakhs tree saplings in ten minutes is unique and unprecedented in the world and we hope to set a record by planting at least 5 lakhs plants in ten minutes, said the State forest secretary ST Lachungpa. The forest department is the nodal agency for implementing this mission and the saplings will be arranged by it in different locations for which instruction has been issued to the DFO (Territorial) in all the four districts.
The programme will be implemented from the grassroots levels and we are asking the village people what type of plantation they want, said Mr. Lachungpa.
The department has already written to the line departments and dispatched officials to all the four districts to liaise with the area MLAs and Panchayats to make the programme a success. The army and Border Roads Organization based in Sikkim will also be involved in this programme.
Mr. Lachungpa has also written to the State human resource development department requesting the department to issue directives to all the principals, headmasters, headmistress of senior secondary schools, secondary schools and junior high schools to organized plantation of trees and flowering plants in their school complex throughout the State in coordination with the forest officials.
Officials from the department will also be monitoring the planting drive on July 15 and see to that we met the target of planting 6 lakh saplings in ten minutes, said Mr. Lachungpa.
Today’s press conference was also attended by science & technology department secretary ML Arrawatia, CS Rao (CCF), C Lachungpa (CCF), HP Pradhan (CCF) and BK Tiwari (additional director) of the forest department.
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