STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Amrit Brikshya Andolan launched by the state government received fitting recognition, with the state creating nine Guinness World Records in as many categories. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received the certificates from Guinness World Record Adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar at a function held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here today. In scripting the ninth record, the State Forest Department automatically scripted another record (tenth) for ‘most pledges (47,28,898) received overall’ in one month.
Chief Minister Sarma launched Amrit Brikshya Andolan, and as a 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, September 17, 2023. During Amrit Brikshya Andolan, started by the Department of Environment and Forests, attempts were made to create Guinness World Records.
Accordingly, nine records were made in as many categories. In the first category, that is in the Longest Line of Potted Saplings, record was made at Veterinary College Field, Khanapara, Guwahati by the Kamrup East Forest Division and a 22.22-km-long line of 3,22,444 poly-potted saplings was arranged in a spiral form with beautiful lighting. The seedlings arranged in spiral form were of Agar and Mahogany species.
In the second category, that is in the largest number of saplings distributed at a venue in 24 hours, the record was made when the sapling arranged in the spiral form at the Veterinary College Field, Khanapara. A total of 3,22,444 seedlings were distributed during the attempt and broke the earlier record of 76,825 saplings distributed in the year 2018 at Prayagraj by the UP Forest Department.
In the third category, that is the Most Trees Planted by a Team in 24 hours, the record was made when 9,21,730 saplings were successfully planted in 100 ha degraded forest land in 24 hours in Bhairabkunda Reserve Forests of Udalguri district.
In the fourth category, that is the Most Trees Planted by a Team in One Hour, the record was made when a total of 3,31,929 sapling was successfully planted in a team of 8,900 persons.
In the fifth category, that is the Largest Potted Saplings Mosaic, the record was achieved in the Tinsukia district by Digboi Forest Division, when a potted saplings mosaic in 8,563.01 sq. m. was made, depicting the map of Assam and showing rhinoceros in the centre of mosaic. This is a new category in Guinness World Record. A total of 6,32,000 saplings were used in making this mosaic.
In the sixth category, the record was made in Geleki in the Sivsagar 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, Assam, on September 11, 2023, which was viewed by 70,490 persons during the online lesson and more than 10 lakh people later.
In the eighth category, a record was made, when a total of 71,82,358 Photographs (Unique Images with Unique Faces with Plant) of people planting trees have been uploaded online on Amrit Brikhya Andolan Portal. In the ninth category, that is the Most Pledges Received for an Environmental Sustainability Campaign in a month (Online), a total of 47,28,898 online pledges have been taken by persons during Amrit Brikhya Andolan, to plant trees and protect them, and made a Guinness World Record.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Amrit Bikshya Andolan was launched to strengthen Assam’s economy through forests. He said that economy in sync with ecology is one of the priorities, and through this State the Government is working towards a green economy.
He also said that in the year 2024 and 2025, the State Government would also endeavour to plant three crore and five crore saplings respectively. He also said that in the year 2025 the State Government would also try to create a new record by staging the Bihu Dance in New Delhi with the participation of 25,000 Bihuwas and Bihuwatis on April 7, 2025.
Environment and Forests Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, additional chief secretary Rabi Sankar Prasad, PCCF M.K. Yadava also spoke on the occasion.
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