With the mission “Back to Nature”, environmental NGO Go Green Volunteers (GGV) has been steadily working towards creating a greener and more sustainable environment in Unakoti district since 2023. The organisation began its nature-oriented activities with the active support of Kailashahar Municipal Council, Kailashahar Sub-Divisional Administration and Kailashahar Press Club.

Since July 2023, GGV has been conducting plantation and maintenance drives at various locations across Unakoti district as well as in Agartala. With around 50 volunteers, including women, the organisation has focused primarily on roadside and institutional plantation.

One of its notable completed initiatives is the “Green Guards” project, undertaken in collaboration with the Unakoti Forest Sub-Division. The project aims to promote the reuse of discarded plastic bottles while protecting newly planted saplings. Around 60,000 discarded plastic bottles have reportedly been reused as protective guards for saplings, preventing them from ending up as waste that could clog drainage systems.

Meanwhile, under its ongoing campaign “Green Unakoti, Save Unakoti”, GGV has planted around 2,000 fruit-bearing saplings on the hilltop of Unakoti in collaboration with the Kailashahar Forest Sub-Division. Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy and MLA Birajit Sinha sanctioned Rs 3.80 lakh from the MLA BUDP fund for the initiative.

According to the organization, the Unakoti plantation project aims not only to increase green cover but also to restore the biodiversity of the historic site and revive Sita Kunda, while keeping the habitat and movement of wild animals in consideration.

Mrinal Kanti Sinha, one of the founding members said the organization has so far planted more than 20,000 saplings at different locations, including educational institutions, in collaboration with institutions, the district administration and the Forest Department.

“Some of our plantation sites at schools were completely destroyed due to infrastructural development, which was a major setback. However, the overall survival rate is around 60 percent, and many of the surviving saplings have now attained man height,” Sinha said.

He added that the survival rate during the first year was around 84 percent, but several plantations subsequently suffered due to vandalism and infrastructural development.

Successful plantation sites include Pecharthal JNB, Bilashpur Sringeri Math, Ramakrishna Math and Mission Road, Kailashahar Airport Road, Manuvelly Tea Estate plantation, Chirakuti  and the approach road to Vidyanagar School. The organization generally prefers native, fruit-bearing and medicinal plant species.

GGV has also completed the first Miyawaki forest plantation at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kailashahar, in collaboration with the school authorities.

Sinha said site selection remains one of the major challenges for plantation activities. However, he acknowledged the continued support of KMC and the district administration whenever difficulties arise.

Apart from plantation, GGV conducts environmental awareness programmes, campaigns against tree cutting and works to remove iron guards that restrict the growth of trees.

The organization believes that planting trees alone is not enough. Protecting them from vandalism and creating greater environmental awareness among citizens are equally important for ensuring a greener and sustainable Unakoti.

Uttam Das, another founding member appealed to all to come forward to make the mission successful for the interest of future generations.