More than seven lakh trees would be planted in Meghalaya on July 30 in an attempt to regain lost greenery and making afforestation a people's movement, an official said today.
"The aim is to plant 7,00,700 number of trees in a single day on July 30 in multiple locations identified in the eight rural development blocks in East Khasi Hills district," East Khasi Hills district deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal said in a statement.
This is an attempt to regain lost greenery and making afforestation a people's movement, he said.
According to Goyal, the effort has been considered by the Limca Book of Records for their Edition of 2016. However, the final call and decision would be taken only after the plantation drive is over on that day and final figures are available.
He said the Guinness World Record Authorities have also been contacted and the government is awaiting feedback.
Since International Friendship Day will also be celebrated on July 30, the theme of the Plantation Drive is also 'Pledge Friendship with Nature and to Pledge to Make Meghalaya Green', he said.
Tagged as the Mega Tree plantation festival, the campaign is to bring back some greenery in the district as well as the state as a whole and sensitise the public especially the youth about the green cause as envisaged under the umbrella programme of Mission Green of the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme of the state government.
The state government has also sanctioned a five year financial sanction for annual maintenance of the trees which will be funded and supervised by the department concerned in collaboration with the community who has given the land for plantation and who would be responsible to maintain the plants for these years and beyond.
Meghalaya has forest covers of at least 75 per cent of the total geographical area, the latest India State of Forest Report has said.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma will launch the festival from Leit Thiepbah village, about 25 km from here.
