Assam achieved a remarkable feat as the
State Government received nine Guinness World Records certificates for a mega
plantation drive in September-October, officials said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
received the certificates from Guinness World Records Adjudicator Swapnil
Dangarikar for the State’s ‘Amrit Brikshya Andolan’ on Wednesday.
As part of the drive, a total of 1,11,17,781
seedlings of commercially valuable tree species were planted across the State
on a single day on September 17.
The entire exercise was carried out in
the ‘Jan Bhagidaari’ model through the involvement of the Self-Help Groups,
ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, educational institutions, police personnel,
tea garden workers, government officials and other citizens.
“Amrit Brikshya Andolan has been
successful only because of Jan Bhagidari. The collective efforts of both,
citizens and government functionaries, has transformed the impossible to
possible,” said CM Himanta while receiving the accolades.
In the first category, the Longest Line
of Potted Saplings, record was made at Veterinary College Field in Guwahati by
Kamrup East Forest Division and 22.22 km long line of 3,22,444 poly potted
saplings were arranged in a spiral form with lighting.
In the second category, the Largest
Number of Saplings Distributed at one venue in 24 hours, record was made when
saplings arranged in the spiral form at the Veterinary College Field were
distributed. A total of 3,22,444 seedlings were distributed.
In the third category, the Most Trees
Planted by a Team in 24 hours, a record was made when 9,21,730 saplings were
successfully planted in 100 hectares degraded forest land in Bhairabkunda
Reserve Forests of Udalguri district.
In the fourth category, the Most Trees
Planted by a Team in One Hour, a record was made when a total of 3,31,929
saplings were successfully planted in one hour by a team of 8,900 persons.
In the fifth category, the Largest
Potted Saplings Mosaic, the record was achieved in Tinsukia district by Digboi
Forest Division when potted saplings mosaic in 8,563.01 sq metres was made
depicting map of Assam and showing rhinoceros in the centre of the mosaic. A
total of 6,32,000 saplings were used in making this mosaic.
In the sixth category, the record was
made at Geleki in Sivasagar district when a total of 1,229 girl students
planted 1,229 agar seedlings simultaneously in just 58 seconds.
In the seventh category, the record was
made when a lesson on Environmental Conservation and Sustainability was given
online by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force
of Assam on September 11 that was viewed by 70,490 persons and more than 10
lakh people later.
In the eighth category, a record was
made when a total of 71,82,358 photographs of people planting trees were
uploaded online on the Amrit Brikhya Andolan portal.
In the ninth category, the Most Pledges
Received for an Environmental Sustainability Campaign in one month (Online), a
total of 47,28,898 online pledges have been taken to plant trees and protect
them.
The CM said the ‘Amrit Bikshya Andolan’
was launched to strengthen Assam’s economy through forests.
He said the economy in sync with ecology
is one of the priorities and through this exercise, the State Government is
working towards a green economy.
CM Himanta further said in 2024 and
2025, the State Government will attempt to plant three crore and five crore
saplings respectively.
“In 2025, we will also try to create one
more record by staging the Bihu dance in New Delhi with the participation of
25,000 Bihua and Bihuwati (dancers),” he added.
On April 14 this year, with over 11,304
dancers and drummers, Bihu created two Guinness Book of World Records in the
category of largest recital of Bihu dance and playing of ‘Bihu dhol’ in a
single venue.
PTI
