Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today committed that the State government will ensure that the supply of single use plastic will be dealt with firmly.
“The use of single use plastic is banned by the government but we have challenges when it comes to enforcement but we will be ensuring that the supply of single use plastic will be dealt with firmly by the government,” he said.
While getting people to stop using single use plastic is not so easy, the Chief Minister said, there has to be an alternative given to the people like organic bags or plastic bags that degrade after ninety days. “Stopping single use plastic at every shop will be very difficult and the easiest way to stop single use plastic is to stop their supply,” he asserted at the culmination of World Environment Day celebration held here today.
Sangma said that the government in the last few years have been trying to focus bring a change in the environmental sector by collaborating different departments and getting the community involved. “Today’s program is another step forward towards ensuring for the need for all of us to work together to be able to achieve the goals that we have laid before us,” he said stressing that the goals cannot be achieved only by the government but by the involvement and participation of the society and community at the grassroots level.
He highlighted on the Payment to Ecosystem Services and the state hopes to earn carbon credits from different agencies. The Chief Minister also said that environment will play a crucial role in creation of livelihood activities and employment because environment will be linked to different sectors like Tourism, Agriculture, Farming etc.
Chief Secretary, Donald P Wahlang, informed the gathering on the progress and rejuvenation of Wah Umkhrah river and other rivers in Shillong and also emphasized on the need of simple steps that can be adopted to conserve and preserve environment.
Other highlights of the program included distribution of prizes to the winners of different competitions that were held to commemorate World Environment Day, Felicitation of Dorbar Shnongs and civil societies involved in the cleaning rivers, maintaining cleanliness and environment protection, Meghalaya Excellence Award on Environment Protection, Release of NRM Mascots and Release of Natural Resource Management Anthem, Distribution of PES cheques and a number of documentaries on Mission Life, Save Shillong River Campaign, Journey of PES etc.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also launched the Tree Plantation Drive and Seed Ball Dispersal at SICPAC and also inaugurated the Nature Interpretation Centre at Ka Phan Nonglait Park.
Around 3.5 million seed balls were dispersed by school children during the WED 2023 and about 75000 children took part in Seed Ball initiative during June 2023. School children across the state had hands on experience in making the seed balls in the schools under the guidance of trained instructors.
Observations of World Environment Day continued in various corners of the state.
The 119 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Assam, in line with the efforts of the nation and the Indian Army towards ‘Green Earth, Preserve Climate’ organised a plantation campaign and planted 300 saplings, joining hands with Social Forestry Division of East Khasi Hills.
It may be mentioned that the Assam Terriers had moved to Kench’s Trace Military Station, Shillong. A defence press release here said the area which was once a deforested land is now a thick forest and plush with pine, fruit trees and colourful flowers.
The afforestation drives have been conducted with a vision and plan which is visible within the military camp. This has become the lungs of the Shillong city and neighbourhood, it said.
The Art of Living joined hands with the Airport Authority of India to celebrate Mission Green Earth at Shillong Airport. The collaborative event witnessed the planting of 180 saplings, consisting of both medicinal and fruit plants, in and around the airport premises.
Saplings were also distributed to to passengers arriving from Delhi to raise awareness about the importance of green initiatives and encourage individuals to take part in preserving the environment.
The Meghalaya Bharat Scouts and Guides celebrated the day with a drawing competition under the theme “Solution to Plastic Pollution”. A total of 21 institutions participated in the competition exhibiting their talent and art addressing the menace of plastic pollution and preserving mother earth.
The first prize was bagged by St. Margaret’s HS School, second prize to Laitumkhrah HS School and third prize to Synod HS School.
The State Council of Science Technology & Environment (SCSTE), in collaboration with Shillong Science Centre organised various activities participated by different School Eco Clubs and school students, teachers and parents.
Poster Presentations, Exhibitions, Popular Talk by young local entrepreneurs, Skits, Puppetry Show and also Open quiz, Drawing/Painting, Essay writing and Extempore speech competitions were the main highlights during the one day programme.
Sixty students were shortlisted for drawing/painting and essay competition for Junior and senior category. The winners were rewarded with cash prizes.
