CM Dr. Sarma receives nine Guinness World Record certificates
Thanks people of the state for spontaneous participation and creating world records
Announces to plant three and five crore saplings in 2024 and 2025
The amrit Brikshya Andolan launched by the Government of Assam received fitting recognition, as the state created nine Guinness World Records in nine different categories. Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma received the certificates from Guinness World Record Adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar at a function held at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra here today.
It may be noted that Chief Minister Dr. Sarma launched Amrit Brikshya Andolan and as a part of the drive a total of 1,11,17,781 seedling of commercially valuable tree species were planted across the State on a single day on 17 September, 2023. The entire exercise was carried out in Jan Bhagidaari model, through active involvement of the Self-Help Group Members, ASHA Workers, Anganwadi Workers, educational institutions, police personnel including VDP, tea garden workers, government officials and other citizens. During Amrit Brikshya Andolan started by the Department of Environment and Forests attempts were made to create Guinness World Records. Accordingly, nine records were made in nine categories. In the first category that is in the Longest Line of Potted Saplings category, record was made at Veterinary College Field, Khnapara, Guwahati by Kamrup East Forest Division and 22.22 km long line of 3,22,444 poly potted saplings were arranged in a spiral form with beautiful lighting. It was a new category of Guinness World Records. The seedlings arranged in spiral form were of Agar and Mahogony species.
In the second category that is in the Largest Number of Saplings Distributed at one venue in 24 hours, record was made when sapling arranged in the spiral form at Veterinary College Field, Khnapara, were distributed to Self Help Group members, public, paramilitary forces, educational institutions etc. A total of 3,22,444 seedlings were distributed during the attempt andbroke the earlier record of 76,825 saplings distribution made in the year 2018 at Prayagraj by UP Forest Department.
In the third category, that is the Most Trees Planted by a Team in 24 hours, record was made when 9,21,730 saplings were successfully planted in 100 ha degraded forest land in 24 hours in Bhairabkunda Reserve Forests of Udalguri district. Earlier Guinness World Record was of planting 8,47,275 made by Pakistan in 2013 at Kharochan, Thatta district.
In the fourth category, that is the Most Trees Planted by a Team in One Hour, record was made when a total of 3,31,929 sapling were successfully planted in one hour by a team of 8,900 persons. In fifth category, that is the Largest Potted Saplings Mosaic, the record was achieved in Tinsukia district by Digboi Forest Division when potted saplings mosaic in 8,563.01 sq. m. was made depicting map of Assam and showing rhinoceros in the centre of mosaic. This is a new category in Guinness World Record. A total of 6,32,000 saplings were used in making this mosaic.
In the sixth category, the record was made in Geleki in Sivsagar district when a total of 1,229 girl students planted 1,229 agar seedlings simultaneously in just 58 seconds. In the seventh category, the record was made when a lesson on Environmental Conservation and Sustainability was given online by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Assam on 11 September, 2023 which was viewed by 70,490 persons during the online lesson and more than 10 lakh people later.
In the eighth category, record was made when a total of 71,82,358 photographs (Unique Images with Unique Faces with Plant) of people planting trees have been uploaded online on Amrit Brikhya Andolan portal. In the ninth category that is the Most Pledges Received for an Environmental Sustainability Campaign in one month (Online), a total of 47,28,898 online pledges have been taken by persons during Amrit Brikhya Andolan, to plant trees and protect them and made a Guinness World Record.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that the Amrit Bikshya Andolan was launched to strengthen Assam’s economy through forests. He said that economy in sync with ecology is one of the priorities and through this State government is working towards green economy.
The Chief Minister also lauded the Jan Bhagidaari Model of the andolan which enabled people from cross section of the society to participate and create world records in their bids of expanding the green coverage of the state. He also thanked all sections of the people of the state for widely accepting and participating in the movement and uploading their endeavour on line. He said that taking the entire movement on line is a testament to ‘New Assam’. He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being generous in helping Assam and its people in every possible way to help the state script many path-breaking records. He also said that in the year 2024 and 2025, State government would also endeavour to plant three crore and five crore saplings respectively. He also said that in the year 2025, State government would also try to create one more record by staging the Bihu dance in New Delhi with the participation of 25 thousand Bihua and Bihuwati.
Environment and Forests Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, additional chief secretary Rabi Sankar Prasad, PCCF M.K. Yadava also spoke on the occasion. MP Queen Oja, MLA Suren Phukan, Chief Secretary Paban Kumar Borthakur, DGP GP Singh and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.