Forest department to ban plastic bags for saplings

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, July 3, 2019: Use of polythene bags for making saplings will be totally banbed from next year and plastics will be replaced by biodegradable material for making saplings in the nurseries under the forest department.

This was stated by forest and environment minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar during a plantation drive at Ngariyan Ching in Imphal East,

He said the move follows a circular from the ministry of environment, forest and cimate change, directing all the state governments to ensure any further use of polythene bags in the nurseries. The forest officials are instructed to ensure nurseries under them to go plastic-free from the next planting season and directed the forest departments to explore alternatives to raise seedlings, he added.

He was accompanied by the forest department officials and the contestants of the ‘Pineapple Queen’ contest.

The plantation programne was taken up ahead of the 12th State level Pineapple Festival cum Sellers and Buyers Meet and Youth Festival, 2019 which is beginning tomorrow at the Thambalnu Market Complex, Imphal East.

Shyamkumar said the tree plantation programme is organised as an initiative to save the environment and to motivate the farmers of the state. Lauding all the stakeholders for participating in the mass plantation programme which are held across the state in collaboration with the forest department, he said he is immensely proud and happy to see the participation from the people of different walks of life to save the environment.

Making an appeal to the people  to support the Green Manipur Mission launched by the chief minister N. Biren Singh, Shyamkumar expressed his hope that people’s support will continue and the forest department officials and other stakeholders will be able to nurture the trees till the maturity.

The tree plantation programme was also a part of the week long Van Mohatsava 2019 celebration.