Black Cat organises painting competition on Ecological Conservation

GANGTOK, 01 June: Black Cat Gunners of the Black Cat Division organised a painting competition based on the theme of Ecological Conservation involving school children from various schools of Gangtok in line with its mission for a ‘cleaner and greener’ earth on World Environment Day.
A press release informs that the competition started at 11 AM on Sunday at Mahatma Gandhi Road and attracted a large number of school children, teachers and parents. Local residents and shopkeepers were also motivated to keep their surroundings clean via the beautiful 'green' paintings.
The children, reminded the tourists and passersby of the immense significance of ‘sustainable development’ coupled with a ‘pollution free’ environment if the natural beauty of the Earth is to be preserved, the release mentions.
The popular tourist spot presented a perfect setting for spreading the message of a ‘greener and cleaner’ earth’.  With a strength of 150 participants, the competition was a huge success with even the tourists trying their hand at painting, the release states.
At the end, prizes were distributed along with consolation prizes to the budding painters.

Cleanliness drive by Black Cat Gunners and APS students

GANGTOK, 27 May: A cleanliness drive was undertaken by the Black Cat Gunners involving school children from Army Public School and Enchey Senior Secondry School in line with its mission for a ‘cleaner and greener’ earth as part of the ongoing Eco Awareness Campaign.
As per a press release, the drive started from Tashi View Point and attracted a large number of school children, teachers and parents. This action oriented drive witnessed clearing of roadside garbage and clearing of clogged drains on the road leading up to Ganesh Tok and Hanuman Tok. Local residents were also urged to keep their surroundings clean.
The children who displayed placards, reminded the tourists, passerbys and drivers of the significance of Sustainable Development coupled with a ‘pollution free’ environment if the natural beauty of the Earth is to be preserved. The popular tourist spot presented a perfect setting for spreading the message of a ‘greener & cleaner earth’.
With a strength of 50 participants, the drive was a huge success with even the locals joining in for the noble cause, the release adds.

Ecological conservation initiatives by Black Cat Division

GANGTOK, 25 May: Black Cat Division organised an afforestation drive today at Tsomgo in East Sikkim. The drive was carried out in consultation with State Forest Department and State Environment & Soil Conservation Department, informs a press release.
Tsomgo is currently devoid of any forest cover which results in frequent landslides due to soil erosion. Plantation of trees having high altitude survival capability was found out to be the only option to prevent this soil erosion, the release mentions.
Hence a pilot project was initiated in which over 250 Rhododendron saplings were planted over an area of fifty acres. The Black Cat Division also has further plans to initiate more projects in other areas as well, it is added.
Black Cat Division is also undertaking a project of cleaning and desilting famous lakes of East Sikkim,
The project will cover Tsomgo, Manju and Bitang Chu which have suffered considerable deterioration over a period of time, resulting in substantial deposition of silt and garbage.
The army is supported by Tsomgo Pokhran Sangrakshan Samiti in this venture, the release informs. The task of manually cleaning Tsomgo and Bitang Chu started on 23 May. The work will continue for a week during which the Black Cat troops will also reach out to locals, tourists and taxi operators to spread the message of preservation and upkeep of these water bodies.