Sohra beautification project
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government has been forced to make some changes in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the plan for restoring of the beauty and greenery of Sohra , that arguably receives the highest rainfall in the world, after the Planning Commission had rejected the DPR prepared by Israel-based firm ARGOS (Agri Projects) Limited.
The firm had proposed for bringing specially designed water tank from Israel for the rain water harvesting project covering in 45 villages across Sohra. The Planning Commission rejected this proposal on the ground that whooping Rs 50-60 crore would be required to bring these water tanks to India while the total project cost is only Rs 87.16 crore, an official informed.
The Planning Commission is of the view that the State Government will not be able to implement some other proposals which are included in the DPR prepared by Israeli firm. The Plan panel has so far released a total amount of Rs 16 crore in connection with this project.
When asked about the present status of the project, the official said besides setting up five tree nurseries, the Soil and Water Conservation department which is implementing this project , was constructing 152 ponds for rain water harvesting in 45 villages across Sohra. From next year onwards, the department would start plantation of trees for restoring of the greenery of Sohra.
The State Government is contemplating to converge this project with the State flagship programme-Integrate Basin and Livelihood Programme so that sufficient fund could be made available.
The state government will have to complete Sohra greenery restoration project within 2015-2016 and the remaining fund will be release in phases for implementation of the project.
Meanwhile, a senior government official informed that a detail study was being conducted in 45 villages right from Mawkdok upto Laitkynsew to understand the ground realities so that the masses would be benefited from the project.
Sohra goes dry during the winter season though it usually receives heavy rainfall during the rainy season. The government is planning to take up a number of projects to encourage Sohra residents to go for rain water harvesting in order to tackle the problem of water scarcity during the winter season.
In order to arrest the receding green cover in Sohra, special kind of high-tech poly houses will be constructed for growing of horticulture seedlings, tree saplings. These high-tech poly houses ensure better and year-round production through computerized climate control and thereby maintain continuous supply to target markets.
A senior official said both foreign and domestic tourists visiting Sohra would be encouraged to plant trees and new tourist spots would be developed in the area to expand the area for plantation of trees.