30 thousand tree planted near India-Bhutan border

A massive tree plantation programme was arranged at Nonai in Khalingduar Reserve Forest near India-Bhutan border on June 5 on the occasion of World Environment Day. Nearly 400 people planted almost 30,000 saplings.The programme was sponsored jointly by Dhansiri Forest Division,Udalguri and BPF Bhergaon district committee in association with SSB camp,Nonai and Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society,Nonai. Lwmsrao Daimari,EM,BTC inaugurated the plantation programme at 9.30 AM near Nonai river close to Indo-Bhutan border.

It needs mention that large scale destruction of forest and human encroachment have posed serious ecological threat in whole BTAD districts. The so called “Man-Elephant conflict” could be a major cause of such destruction.According to senior villagers of the area,the destruction of forest had started during 1992 to 1996 under direct patronage of then SP of Darrang. Hundreds of most valuable old trees had daily been fallen by SULFA and other opportunists under police protection. It had been an easy go for all,including police officials who could come and cut tree in Khalingduar Reserve Forest and Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary till Supreme Court of India intervened in 1996. “Most of the persons involved with destructive activities have now become economical power in cities” lamented a nature loving old villager.

It has been the good initiative of Lwmsrao Daimari,EM,BTC, who had masterminded the massive programme on World Environment Day. Bankim sarma,DFO,Dhansiri Forest Division told that 16000 simul,8000 sisum and 6000 khoir saplings had been planted in a plot of 225 bigha. He also told that tall trees had been planted so as to minimize mortality and would be safe shelter for disappearing birds species like vultures,kites and adjutants etc.He further declared that JFMC (Joint Forest Management Committee) would be formed in Nonai forest range. It was also known that nearly 250 BPF workers,30 laborers, 22 forest workers and 5 forest officials, 10 NGO members of GVFAWLPS, 10 SSB personal and others including Bodoland Small Tea Growers Association offered their services. A leading lady of the area,Dukuna Newar,who also works as the Sarkari Gaonbura also took part in the programme with other woman members. She told this correspondent that with no new plantation villages would face problems like shortage of ground water. According to he members of “Parijat Mahila Samiti” (a local woman NGO)have been working for the conservation of flora of villages bordering Bhutan and they would plant more trees at the site. Several distinguished persons namely – Dandi Ram Rabha,MCLA,BTC; DN Hazarika, Circle Officer,Harisinga Revenue Circle,Tangla; Maheswar Boro,President, Bhergaon district BPF; Dina Nath Das,State Vice President BPF and senior journalist Bhargab Kumar Das etc attended the plantation programme.