Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary inaugurates 73rd Forest Festival at Sejusa

A CORRESPONDENT

JAMUGURIHAT: Assam's Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary on Sunday attended the 73rd Forest Festival at Sejusa near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border as chief guest and inaugurated a mass plantation drive.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken some major steps to plant trees in forest areas. The 73rd Forest Festival has been organized with the mega aim of planting 5,000 valuable trees from Hatipati gate to Sejusa, as Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika has taken some steps to make Sejusa and its neighbouring area green again.

Inaugurating the plantation drive, Patowary appealed to the public to join hands to protect the natural environment for a better future. He further appealed to the people to love and care for wildlife and forestry as their own children. MLA Padma Hazarika handed over a cheque of Rs 4 lakh to each of the family members of the three people who had lost their lives after being struck by lightning recently. Students from various educational institutions under the Naduar education block participated in the plantation drive.

The programme was attended by Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner Deva Kumar Mishra, officials from the forest department and others.

It may be mentioned that the vast area of Sejusa on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border to the north of Jamugurihat is a treasure house of natural beauty. A large number of tourists visit this place every year to enjoy quality time with family and relatives. It is a popular picnic spot too. Picnic groups from far and wide visit this place every year. However, the natural beauty was partially destroyed during the devastating flood of 2004. The area from Hatipati to Sejusa was covered with forest and bushy plants. But taking advantage of the flood and lack of proper security, some timber smugglers cut down the valuable trees of the roadside, resulting in major deforestation in the area.

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