environmental festival unique to the State of Sikkim ,the Paryavaran Mahotsav

Gangtok, June 15:  The fifth phase of the ground breaking environmental festival unique to the State of Sikkim ,the Paryavaran Mahotsav was officially launched by the Hon'ble Minister for the Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management Department-Shri.T.W.Lepcha through a flag off programme at Mahatma Gandhi Marg (M.G.Marg) in the State Capital this morning.
The flag off programme was attended by MLA Gangtok-Shri.Pintso Chopel Lepcha, Mayor and Deputy Mayor of GMC, PCCF-cum- Principal Secretary of the FEWMD Dr. Thomas Chandy, along with other officials and field functionaries of the Department.

Four utility trucks loaded with saplings of flowering plants and trees to be forwarded to the free seedling distribution booths at Zero Point, Sichey Forest Check Post, Chandmari Forest Check Post and the Check Post at Bojoghari were flagged off by the Hon'ble Minister and the esteemed guests. It may also be mentioned that the Free Seedling Distribution Booth at Zero Point also doubles up as an Information Booth from where the public can get all the desired information on the Mahotsav, the State Green Mission, the planting of saplings amongst other vital matters.

In a bid to promote a conscience of cleanliness, segregated waste bins for installation at Ganesh Tok ,Thakur Bari ,Do-Drul Chorten and at the Plant Conservatory,Bulbulay were also released by the Guests.

The programme also saw the felicitation of the drivers of the utility vehicles and the sanitation workers for their contribution towards this epochal environmental revelry.

Since 2013, this people's programme is being celebrated with renewed vigour from the 15th of June upto the 30th of June. The Mahotsav has acted as a holistic platform that duly integrates the momentous State Green Mission and the Ten Minutes to Earth which have now become the core of the Paryavarn Mahotsav .

The ecologically sensible festival that sees mass participation is driven by the theme , " Each one, Plant one" and the focus for the year 2017 is avenue plantation wherein, saplings will be planted along the road sides, highways and pathways all over the State which will not only increase the aesthetic value of our urban surroundings, but will also go a long way in controlling soil erosion and bring about economic utilization of our natural treasures.