From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: The office of the Division Soil and Water Conservation Officer, Jaintia Hills District (T), Jowai organized a one day state level workshop on Centrally Sponsored Scheme of River Valley Project and Flood Prone River (RVP & FPR) in Kupli upper catchment on the theme ‘Community Paticipation for Integrated Watershed Management’ at Satini Hall, Orchid Inn on Thursday last.
Over 60 farmers and 40 officers of the Department including its Director, D Langstieh, Additional Director, KM Syiem, Joint Director, W. Rymbai, Division Officer, D. Challam and others attended the workshop.
Minister in charge Soil and Water Conservation Department, RC Laloo and Parliamentary Secretary in charge of the department, Coming One Ymbon also attended the inaugural function as the chief guest and the guest of honour respectively.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Challam informed that the Division has implemented the scheme with twelve watershed management in various parts of Jaintia Hills District.
“We have occupied an area of 5083 hectare with a total sanctioned of Rs. 733.231 lakh”, said Challam adding that the implementation method was divided in to three divisions- Village forests land, Waste lands and Infrastructures.
According to the Challam, within the Agriculture lands some of the major projects taken up in Jaintia Hills as part of implementation of the schemes were earthen countour bunds, safe disposal outlets, horticulture developments, Check dam loose border with vegetative support, water harvesting and structures, farm ponds, land use incertives crop demonstration.
Within the village forests and waste lands- composite nursery, vegetative fencing, afforestation and maintenance, loose boulder with vegetative support and gabion was taken up.
.”We have started the scheme in 2007-08 and till date we have received only Rs. 337. 38643 lakhs (43.63 percents) out of the total project cost of Rs. 733.231 lakhs”, Challam added.
Speaking on the occasion , Ymbom said the scheme has really benefited the farmers of the district particularly in the area where the watershed management was implemented.
“The project means to uplift the living standard of the villagers economically and I hope that the schemes will bring more benefits to all the famers in the district”, said Ymbon.
“Soil and Water is the most important elements in our daily life and the RVP & FPR will help us to protect soil erosion and to conserve water”, Laloo said
He had also called upon the farmers of the district to make use of their land for better income.
He reminded the people present in the workshop that farmers in Jaintia Hilll grow rice only once a year.
Rice field should be used not only to grow rice but also different kinds of vegetables and if we grow rice we should grow three times a year, he said.