Residents of Tendruk gewog in Samtse planted 2,750 saplings of various trees to observe the birth anniversary of the third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Teachers’ day on May 2.

The initiative is aimed towards bringing a sustainable environment development.

Tendruk gup Nima Dukpa said the gewog has had many farm roads constructed, which led to the felling of trees and impacted environment.

A budget of Nu 50,000 was allocated from the 2016-2017 gewog development grant fund for the initiative.

“Many more projects are coming up,” the gup said, adding it will require the gewog to clear forests and trees. 

He said the plantation would compensate the loss of vegetation, which was destroyed during the construction of many farm roads in the villages.

Gup Nima Dukpa said it is more important that such initiative is implemented on May 2, an auspicious day.

Meanwhile, the saplings were also distributed to Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) and local community forest groups. 

Former Tendruk gup Chitra Singh Mongar, who also planted the saplings at Tendruk Tar, said the initiative was significant.

“In our times, we didn’t have many farm roads but today it is not the case,” he said.

Chitra Singh Mongar said forests were cleared affecting the natural environment. “It is also people’s dream to increase vegetation by plantations. The initiative would bring a big change.”

Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

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