Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, May 4 – In a remarkable attempt under the auspices of the department of Forests, BTC under Haltugaon Forest Division in Kokrajhar as many as 100 jawans of 15 Dogra Regiment of Indian Army & 315 Eco-Task Force Battalion successfully planted 40885 saplings within an hour at Khalashi area under Jharbari Range in Haltugaon Division on April 29.This outnumbered the Guinness Book World Record in which as many as 26,422 trees were planted on December 5, 2009 last at Gransha Park of Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom.
According to Dr C Ramesh, DFO, Haltugaon Forest Division “the idea has been to save forests and environment of this region through mass awareness among the people and it is a great accomplishment that such a record number of saplings could be planted in an area of 30 hectares at Khalashi forest land near the Saralbhanga River bank in a very short span of one hour” he said expressing delight over presence of the cross section of people and greeted the 100 volunteers of the Army and the Eco-Task Force. It may be mentioned here that the Forest department has provided large scale supply of saplings from its nurseries along with those collected from different sources while the locally available saplings of simul trees have been planted.
Meanwhile, Chandan Brahma, Tourism Minister of Assam inaugurated the programme by planting a sapling and greeted the team work leading to a Guinness Book World Record. He has also said that this exemplary effort is commendable and needs to be replicated in other parts for restoring the forest land and its preservation. He has also ensured that the matter will be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister and the Governor of Assam for further advancement.
It may further be mentioned here that a video footage of the programme along with the remarks of the neutral observers will be sent to the Guinness committee for necessary perusal and official recognition.
