The GTA forest department today
celebrated ‘Bann Mahotsav’ in Mirik marked with awareness programmes and
tree sapling plantations. The festivities started with a function at
Krishnanagar Club House, in the presence of Darjeeling MLA Trilok Dewan,
Kurseong MLA Dr. Rohit Sharma and DFO DB Basnett along with various
other departmental officials. The guests and forest officials also
attended a plantation drive at Mirik Forest office premises, where they
planted different tree saplings.
DFO DB Basnett in his address said the
continuous increase in population has led to decline if forest covers,
leading to frequent landslides and other calamities along with decrease
in natural water sources. “The main reason for the global climate change
is also due to decline in forest cover across the world. In that
context, I not just urge the department but also the common people to
come ahead and save the forests,” he stated.
Basnett further informed the forest
department has already initiated the move to save the forest and as part
of its Krishi Programme last year, it has already planted 40 thousand
tree saplings. The farmers were also suggested and trained on growing
bamboo grove, conservation of natural springs for drinking water and
soil fertilization etc.
The function, presided over by Mirik
forest department Sabhasad Ratan Thapa and conducted by official Prakash
Thapa, was also addressed by the other guests. They urged the people
and various organisations and associations to work together to save
forest and help in its conservation.(EOIC)