A press release by the DIO, Pherzawl, informed that it continued till July 3, 2022 where the celebration continued at Thanlon village with the participation of Officials of BRTF, Police personnel, School authorities and students of St Xavier High School and Convention English School, Village Authority and Villagers.  

During all these events, Th Autumn highlighted the brief history of Van Mahotsav, also known as Forest Festival, celebrated during July 1-7 every year and the importance of mass tree plantation.

He apprised the notable conservation works of Bishnoi community of Rajasthan and the legendary story of Amrita Devi Bishnoi, where 363 people sacrificed their lives for protest due to the cutting down of Khejri trees in the year 1730. Quoting lines from Amrita Devi Bishnoi, Th Autumn saied “If a tree is saved even at the cost of one’s head, it’s worth it”.  

Emphasising on the need of forest conservation in hilly districts like Pherzawl, he reiterated for protection of trees along the National highway. Occurrence of frequent landslides during the rainy season have been highly impacting the lives of the inhabitant, thereby causing breakdown of road connectivity, failure of food supply, cut down of electric power supply due to breakdown of electric posts, obstruction in medical emergency services, etc., says Th Autumn.

Lastly, the DFO exhorted them to nurture the saplings they have planted and carry out post-plantation care by watering, fencing and weeding as an extra-curricular activity for a period of three years. Pherzawl Forest Division invites all government employees, NGOs and villagers of the district to actively participate in mass tree plantation programme during this week-long Van Mahotsav celebration as similar mass tree plantation drives will be held at Parbung on 7th July 2022, said the DIO Pherzawl source.