Shillong: Eight schools in Shillong observed World Environment Day on Monday by undertaking cleaning the capital city of Meghalaya state in northeastern India.

Students from 1st MLP Battalion Secondary School, Mawiong Presbyterian Lower Primary School, St. Dennis Secondary School and others were seen carrying placards and banners containing slogans aimed at creating awareness on the need to practice cleanliness for a cleaner environment.

The cleaning drive at Mawiong Umjapung assumed significance considering as the locality, situated along the National Highway, is the gateway to Shillong.

S.B Wanniang, secretary of the Clean Mawiong Umjapung Advisory Committee, said the awareness programs on cleanliness and environment conservation were earlier held in the local schools to sensitize the young minds on the issue of environment protection and maintenance.

He further informed that the participating schools had resolved to repeat such cleaning drives at frequent intervals in future so as to pass the message across to all concerned of the need to conserve and protect the environment.

He also informed that the schools had on October 2, 2015, participated in a similar cleaning drive along the National Highway in an attempt to keep the area clean and litter free, northeastindiatoday.com reported.