Shillong, June 5: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma marked World Environment Day 2025 by participating in an avenue plantation drive of ornamental trees at Ummir Playground in Ummir Village, New Shillong Township, East Khasi Hills. He personally planted a tree at Umniuh Junction as part of the initiative.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister called for public participation and personal accountability in environmental conservation. Reflecting on the ecological challenges confronting Meghalaya, he shared striking visuals from West Khasi Hills and Mairang—areas visibly impacted by environmental degradation. These visuals, captured on his mobile phone during an official helicopter tour, served as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for action. He stressed the importance of both personal responsibility and collective action.
“Every small action matters—whether it’s switching off unnecessary lights, saving water, or carrying your waste until proper disposal. These habits must become a part of our daily lives, not just today,” he said.
Challenging citizens to act, he asked, “What am I going to do today to protect my environment?”—a question he urged everyone to ask themselves daily.
He stressed that lasting change stems from individual action, not merely policy declarations.
“Today is World Environment Day, but the commitment we show today must become a habit we live by every single day,” he added.
The Chief Minister also highlighted ongoing government efforts to combat climate change and reverse environmental degradation. Under his leadership, over 1.84 crore saplings have been planted in the past five years, with an additional 42,000 hectares of afforestation planned.
He praised the community-led GREEN Meghalaya+initiative—India’s largest Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programme—which has preserved more than 52,000 hectares of forest through grassroots participation and financial incentives. He said this model reflects Meghalaya’s sacred grove tradition, combining cultural heritage with modern conservation.
“Through PES, we have protected forests not through enforcement, but through partnership. This is sacred work—our duty to future generations,” he said.
As part of Meghalaya’s push for urban transformation, the Chief Minister launched Mission Clean Shillong 2027, a city-wide campaign aligned with the National Games 2027. The mission aims to make Shillong one of India’s cleanest cities.
He informed that its success hinges on citizen involvement—from students and youth leaders to traditional heads and institutions.
He also urged citizens to follow examples from countries like Japan, where individuals carry their waste until they find proper disposal. “If every Meghalayan decides not to throw garbage on the road, the need for government intervention will drastically reduce,” he said.
He reiterated that Meghalaya’s accolades for the “cleanest river” and the “cleanest village” should now be matched with the title of the “cleanest city”—achieved through participatory effort, not top-down directives.
“Small actions, when taken collectively and consistently, can change the course of our future. Let us not make today the only day we care about the environment—let us make it a daily habit”, he added.
The occasion also saw the unveiling of important policy documents:
* Mission Clean Shillong 2027•
Building a Climate-Resilient Green Economy
These blueprints integrate solid and liquid waste management, river rejuvenation, green mobility, and urban planning under the Meghalaya Vision 2032, aiming to place the state among the top 10 in India for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and per capita income.
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