As part of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP), a Plantation Drive Program was held at the Supermarket in Dimapur on June 27, 2024. The event was graced by Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and Village Guards Nagaland, CL John, and Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Y Kikheto Sema, IAS.
Lhinghokim Touthang, IFS, FUO, and IC DFO, Dimapur, who chaired the program, highlighted that the plantation drive covered a stretch of approximately 690 meters with 440 plants. The NCAP was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Government of India, in 2019 with the aim of reducing the concentration of particulate matter by 40% from 2017 levels by 2026. The Dimapur Forest Division has been actively implementing pollution mitigation works under NCAP in previous years, including the installation of vertical gardens in areas with high traffic movement and air pollution.
However, Lhinghokim Touthang noted that there have been instances of pots being stolen and plants being uprooted from the vertical gardens. She appealed to the citizens of the district to take proper care of the gardens, emphasizing that reduced pollution and improved air quality would benefit everyone.
Y Kikheto Sema, IAS, delivered a keynote address, expressing concern about the failure to adequately care for and protect nature. He stressed the importance of creating awareness among the public about the rich biodiversity of our planet and the urgent need to address climate change. He emphasized that climate change has become a critical issue that could potentially disrupt our peaceful coexistence with the environment in the near future. He highlighted that Dimapur’s air quality is below the national average, with an air quality index of only 96, and urged citizens to plant more trees to improve air quality for present and future generations.
CL John, in his speech, emphasized the significance of clean air as the foundation of our existence. He called upon society and various council members to raise awareness among the people of Nagaland about the importance of protecting the air we breathe. To combat climate change, he encouraged the NCC and other societal members to actively participate in tree planting initiatives to safeguard our planet and the environment.
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