Imphal: Manipur’s commitment to environmental sustainability shone brightly today as Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla spearheaded the state’s 76th Van Mahotsav celebration, a week-long festival dedicated to forest conservation and climate action. The day’s events, steeped in tradition and forward-thinking initiatives, culminated in a powerful call for collective responsibility towards Mother Earth.
The festivities commenced at the historic Kangla Fort Complex, where Governor Bhalla personally planted a sapling, symbolising the state’s participation in the nationwide “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0” campaign. This initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, encourages every citizen to plant a tree in honour of their mother and as a tribute to Mother Earth. Following this symbolic act, the programme shifted to the City Convention Centre for the grand-finale ceremony, drawing in a diverse gathering of forest officials, educators, students, and community leaders, including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Anurag Bajpai.
In his impassioned address, Governor Bhalla underscored Manipur’s rich ecological heritage, praising the indigenous communities for their time-honhonoured forest conservation practices. He delivered a stark warning against the immediate and pervasive threats of deforestation, unsustainable resource use, and climate change, urging citizens to take immediate action. He reiterated that planting a tree remains one of the most potent weapons in the fight against the escalating climate crisis.
The Governor then felicitated various stakeholders for their contributions to environmental preservation. Awards were presented to the winners of a state-level painting competition, acknowledging the creative efforts of young minds in promoting environmental awareness. Volunteers who had tirelessly assisted the administration in combating recent forest fires were also honoured, their selfless efforts lauded. In a gesture aimed at fostering future environmental stewards, saplings were distributed to student representatives from every district. The occasion also saw the release of a commemorative Van Mahotsav 2025 publication, documenting the state’s journey towards a greener tomorrow. Governor Bhalla lauded the Forest Department for their exceptional efforts, highlighting their achievement of planting over 1.3 million saplings across sixteen districts in just one week. He specifically commended their innovative use of recycled plastic bottles as fencing for saplings, a sustainable practice he strongly encouraged others to adopt.
The significant event concluded with a collective pledge by all attendees to actively safeguard Manipur’s precious forests, rivers, and hills, and to work collaboratively towards fostering a greener future for generations to come. Governor Bhalla left the gathering with a poignant appeal, urging every household to plant and nurture at least one tree, envisioning it as a lasting symbol of gratitude, responsibility, and hope for a healthier planet.
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