President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a three-day tour of Sikkim, on Thursday planted a sampling of Rhododendron arboretum on the premises of Lok Bhavan in Gangtok. The ceremonial plantation programmer formed part of the President’s official engagements in the State and underscored the importance of environmental conservation and sustainable living. The initiative also highlighted Sikkim’s rich ecological heritage and the State’s continued commitment towards preserving the natural environment of the Himalayan region. Governor Mr. Om Prakash Mathur, Secretary-cum-PCCF, Forest and Environment Department, Dr Pradeep Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Governor, Lok Bhawan, Jitendra Singh Raje, District Collector Gangtok; Rohan Agwane, officials of Lok Bhawan, Forest and Environment Department, Police Personnel, senior State Government officials and dignitaries were present on the occasion. Rhododendron arboreum, recognized for its crimson-red blossoms, is one of the prominent flowering trees of the Himalayan region and holds ecological and cultural significance in Sikkim. The species is widely found across the hill State and contributes to the rich biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas.
