Northeast Green Summit mingles science, technology & environment

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: The three-day sixth edition of Northeast Green Summit organised by NIT Silchar was different and well-timed to mingle together science, technology and environment, considered against the lack of industrialization and rapid loss of greenery. The opinion that emerged from deliberations of invited dignitaries emphasized more development of the Northeast and preservation and promotion of greenery. On the one hand, the stress was on proper utilization of science and technology to boost development and, on the other hand, accelerate plantation of trees to compensate for the degradation of nature, flora and fauna.

Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State of Education, speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural function, said the world has been passing through a critical phase caused by the Corona pandemic which has brought into focus the need to maintain ecological balance and save nature. He at the same time advocated proper utilization of technologies for harnessing the resources of nature for development.

Dr Sivaji Bandopadhyay in his welcome address focused on creating awareness about the protection of the delicate biodiversity of the region. In the post-Covid period, it has become all the more imperative to develop eco-tourism, he added.

C P Marak, former chairman of Pollution Control Board of Meghalaya, was hopeful that this Summit would draw a roadmap for maintaining a balance between development and the environment. All the sincere steps discussed in this direction would not end in a fiasco, he said.

Dr Rajdeep Roy, MP, said India is playing an important role in the world for containing environmental pollution. At the meet of world leaders, the Prime Minister outlined the country's planning to offset climate change, the greatest global challenge.

At this Summit, the main attraction was Padma Shri Jadav Payeng, popularly known as the man of the forest, who said during the pandemic, many persons lost their lives due to lack of oxygen. This has brought out the fact that more and more plantation drive has to be carried out to create a green environment and generate oxygen. His novel idea was to plant trees of longevity along the Indo-Bangladesh border intensively which will eliminate the need for fencing, besides keeping the areas green. He took part in the plantation of trees along with Abhinav Deb, called Oxygen Boy of Dholai, in the NIT campus. Abhinav has set a target of planting 100 trees in his home place of Borjalenga.

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