Making green Mizoram greener on Green Day

Aizawl, Jun 8 (UNI) The state's Forest department is taking all efforts to make Mizoram greener on the Green Mizoram Day tomorrow.

A Green Day function held this morning was presided over by Chief Minister Zoramthanga at the New Capital Complex, where all interested VIPs, heads of departments, officers, NGOs and the public are invited.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Environement and Forest Minister Dr Lalthangliana, who said that nearly 12 lakh trees have been planted on the occasion of the Green Mizoram Day since 1999.

The Green Mizoram Day was derived from Green Aizawl which was initiated in 1988.

However, despite trees being planted on the occasion of Green Day, a much larger number of trees were felled every year in the process of shifting cultivation.

Chief Minister Zoramthanga said ''Shifting cultivation posed the main problem in making Mizoram completely green.

''Only when we can convert from shifting cultivation to permanent plantations, we will be able to improve our economy and our environment. The government is taking all efforts to abolish shifting cultivation,'' he said.

A new scheme initiated from last year's Green Day is the 'sponsored tree planting scheme', under which anyone can sponsor a tree at the cost of Rs 1,400. The tree will be planted and looked after by the Forest department.

At the request of the School Education minister, all government schools planted trees on this day. Each student is expected to plant one tree and look after it.

UNI