Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma on Wednesday highlighted the urgent need to protect the state’s diminishing forest areas, including Baramura, Atharomura, and Longtrai. Speaking at a district-level Swachhata Hi Seva event at Bankar under Ward No. 7 of Khowai Municipal Council, Debbarma emphasized the pivotal role forests play in safeguarding the environment, preventing floods, and maintaining ecological balance.
He called on citizens to actively participate in afforestation efforts, stressing that increasing the green cover is essential to avert natural disasters. “We must plant trees in large numbers to prevent severe environmental consequences,” Debbarma warned.
Khowai Municipal Council Chairperson Debashish Nath Sharma also addressed the gathering, while District Magistrate Chandni Chandran delivered the welcome speech. Several other key officials, including Police Superintendent Ramesh Chandra Yadav and Additional District Magistrate Sumit Kumar Pandey, were present.
During the event, umbrellas were distributed to 10 female sanitation workers, and raincoats to 10 male workers. The program concluded with a tree planting ceremony at Bankar Dashamighat and a cleaning drive at Subhash Park’s vegetable and fish market. The Forest Minister, along with other dignitaries, led by example in the tree plantation and cleanup activities, urging all citizens to do their part in preserving the environment.
