The Goalpara district administration through its ambitious project, “Greening Goalpara”, successfully planted approximately 15 lakh saplings during 2018-2019. This has increased the forest cover in the district from 19.9 to 26 per cent.

The green drive was initiated on July 27, 2018, by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Dudhnoi.

Within 19 days of the initiation of the programme, the administration, assisted by all its departments, including social forestry, succeeded in planting about 12 lakh saplings. It went up to nearly 15 lakh at the end of 2019.

“Since its inception, we have planted 15.34 lakh saplings in reserve forests, hills, wasteland, school campuses, roadside and government buildings along with protective measures. Across the district, various organisations, government employees, students, men, women, took a pledge to maintain the saplings in each household which made the mission possible,” said Goalpara deputy commissioner Varnali Deka.

“The aim was to match the number of trees with the population of the district which is approximately 12 lakh and 20 per cent additional plantations for the future generations,” she added.

“The success of the drive hugely contributed to the environment and specially made the students aware of their surroundings and the role of nature in our lives,” said Nayanjyoti Rajbongshi, assistant conservator of forest, Goalpara division.

Commenting upon the success of the project, Parvez Ali, a leading youth social worker, said, “The greening project was mostly focused on urban afforestation. But the main challenge before the administration is to tackle the encroachments in the reserve forests and reduce the man elephant conflict.”