Guwahati: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, on June 8, advocated for a collective action to create a pro-planet impact for generating sustainable economic opportunities.
Speaking at the Amrit Plantation Programme launched at Chandubi in Kamrup district, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that collective action on the part of everybody in the society is the need of the hour for the preservation of forests not only for individual and social needs but also for economic needs. He said that contributions from all the stakeholders would create a conducive climate for generating sustainable economic opportunities.
He said that around 20 per cent of the forest land in Assam is under encroachment, and all are facing an adverse effect of it. He said that people are destroying hills to construct their dwelling houses. At the same time, with the increase in fossil fuel use, global warming has become an alarming proposition. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who announced LiFE, to bring individual behaviours at the forefront of the global climate action narrative, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma appealed to the people at large to contribute to cut carbon emissions to save the balance of Mother Earth. Stating the Prime Minister’s call to cut carbon emissions to zero by 2070, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Assam Government, in response to this call, is taking steps for the generation of 5000 MW solar power in the State.
Spelling out the steps taken for the preservation of forest lands in the State, the Chief Minister said that in the last two years, by launching eviction drives in Lumding Reserve forests, Pabo Reserve forest, Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, 61375 bigha lands have been freed from encroachments.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government is working to increase the total forest cover from the existing 36 per cent to 38 per cent. It is not in Summer alone; on all 365 days, concerted efforts will be taken to plant more saplings, save trees and protect the forest from being encroached upon. He also called for Jan Bhagidari for a massive plantation.
The Chief Minister, during his speech, also announced that on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 this year, the State Government would plant one crore saplings. Everybody participating in the occasion would get Rs 100 as a token of gratitude for looking after the planted saplings. After three years, if the plant survives, the person will get another Rs 200. He said that to create a forest-centric parallel economy, the State Government has taken steps to encourage the plantation of commercial timber like sal, teak etc.
Governor of Assam Gulab Chand Kataria, who also graced the occasion, also released two books titled ‘Towards Natural Farming’ and ‘Rare and Threatened Plant Species of Assam’ along with the Chief Minister.
The first lady of Assam, the wife of Governor Anita Kataria, Cabinet Ministers, MPs, MLAs and a host of dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Earlier on January 10, Assam Government in Lakhimpur conducted an eviction drive and cleared around 500 hectares of forest land in the Pabho reserve forest in the district.
Out of 2,560.25 hectares of the Administration on January 10, evicted more than 600 illegal encroaching families from the reserve forest area.
In July 2022, 84 families submitted documents claiming land ownership, but these were found to be fake upon scrutiny.
Last year the Government conducted an eviction drive in the Lumding Reserve forest and evicted almost 1000 Muslim encroacher families.
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