By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The ongoing eco-restoration programme at Sohra, under which eleven lakh saplings were planted, faces a constant threat from forest fires that are common in the hills of the State.
The saplings were planted in order to preserve the ecology of the Sohra plateau and the six-year-old project sanctioned by the Centre in 2010-11 under special plan assistance at a total cost of Rs 87.16 crore aims at addressing issues like enhancement of soil moisture, identification of critical areas for immediate restoration of degraded soil and tackling water crisis during drier months.
However, the possible destruction of the saplings due to forest fires has become a cause of concern for the Soil and Water Conservation department.
Speaking on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Multipurpose Conservation Pond-cum-Recreation Park on Monday, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Prof RC Laloo said, “People of Sohra should resolve not to allow people to burn the forests and bushes in the area.”
He also announced an award for every village which preserves the saplings. It may be mentioned that the department has decided to plant 12,98,750 seedlings in the second year of the project. While Rs 16 crore has already been spent in the first year, another Rs 18 crore would be spent in the second year of the project.
Earlier, apart from the multipurpose conservation pond-cum-recreations park, drinking water tapped chamber and multipurpose water conservation structures at three different locations in Sohra were also inaugurated as a part of the project.
Addressing the gathering, Additional Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri said the eco-restoration project has been designed with an objective to preserve the environment.
“The programme, besides improving the greenery in Sohra, also looks to boost the horticulture sector,” he said.
In the first year 50 hectares of land was utilised for citrus fruits while 35 hectares was used for temperate fruits.
Under the programme, the department has also asked the residents not to rear goats for few years while giving them the option of piggery and other activities to make up for it and the villages are being paid Rs 14000 per unit of pigs.
Project manager HS Kharpran informed that the project will be implemented in 45 villages in and around the Sohra plateau and saplings, mostly indigenous, are being planted to replenish the lost greenery of Sohra.
The department has also roped in school children and members of the public under the banner of ‘Barefoot Environment Educators’ (BEES) for successful implementation of the programme and the members are being paid a monthly remuneration of Rs 4000 to carry out the task.