Mission LiFE: Lifestyle for Environment Campaign sensitizes masses in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: The Regional Office Guwahati Pollution Control Board of Assam (PCBA) joined hands with the Guwahati Wildlife Division of Assam and the region’s leading biodiversity conservation organisations, Aaraynak and Parijat Academy, to organise two cleanliness drives and sensitization programmes under Mission LiFE: Lifestyle for Environment in Guwahati. On May 27, the event was organised around Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site in Guwahati, Assam, and was attended by Er. Gokul C. Bhuyan, Additional Chief Environmental Engineer, HI, Regional Office Assam, Pollution Control Board, representatives from Aaraynak, officials from Guwahati Wildlife Division, and students and teachers from Parijat Academy, Guwahati.

The Deepor Beel, located around 10 km southwest of Guwahati, spans across 900 ha and is considered the largest wetland ecosystem in the Brahmaputra River valley. The wetland is primarily fed by the Kalmani and Basistha rivers, which carry sediment and nutrients into the beel, thus supporting a rich biodiversity. It provides excellent habitat and nesting sites for resident birds and harbours an impressive diversity of winter migratory birds. It is a crucial elephant corridor and provides livelihoods to the local communities residing around its fringes.

During the event, Er. Gokul C. Bhuyan emphasised the need to adopt sustainable practises such as drip irrigation and talked about the importance of water conservation. He mentioned how a recent official raid jointly conducted by the PCBA and GMC helped seize Around 10 tonnes of single-use plastic While Aaranyak’s Madhumita Borthakur, a senior GIS analyst, provided insights on the need for organising such an outreach programme, This was followed by a Mission LiFE pledge by all the participants present. Thereafter, the cleanliness drive was undertaken around Deepor Beel watchtower, which resulted in the collection of four sacks full of plastic waste. These wastes will be disposed of properly by the PCBA. Parijat Academy’s Seuti Teron shared the inspiring story of Parijat Academy, founded by Uttom Teron, who was a recipient of the CNN IBN Real Heroes Award in 2002, and extended a heartfelt thank you for organising the event.

The second event in the series was organised at the 10th mile, Khanapara Range of Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary, on September 29, which was joined by Adarsh Hindi Vidyapeeth High School. The programme sensitised the students, local youths, and other representatives of the local community to practise a sustainable and harmonious lifestyle around protected areas. The programme was presided over by Mr. Bhuyan in the presence of Mahendra Lal Deb, principal of the school, forest officials from Khanapara Range, and Avishek Sarkar from Aaranyak. The cleanliness drive was carried out in and around the Khanapara range by the students, members of local communities, and officials from the forest department, PCBA, and Aaranyak, stated a press release.

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