By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Soil and Water Conservation Minister Rowell Lyngdoh said that the Cherrapunjee ecological project would not be abandoned due to withdrawal of funds meant for it.
Talking to media persons here on Tuesday, Lyngdoh said, “the Chief Minister (Dr Mukul Sangma) is trying hard to mobilize resources for the project and it will not be abandoned.”
Earlier, the budget provision of Rs 27 crore for the project meant for this year was withdrawn after suggestion from the Planning department. The Soil and Water Conservation Minister said that the withdrawn money would be used somewhere else as decided by the State Planning Board.
However, the withdrawal of funds was criticized by the residents of Sohra.
Under the project, the scheme termed as Cherrapunjee Ecological Project Restoration of Degraded Lands under Sohra Plateau was being implemented. The scheme is worth Rs 87 crore and the first and second instalment amounting to Rs 16 crore and Rs 18 crore respectively have already been utilised.
The project was implemented in 45 villages in and around the Sohra plateau, and saplings, mostly indigenous, were planted in different parts of Sohra to replenish its lost greenery.
Lyngdoh also informed that the out of the original estimate of 87.16 crore meant for the project, the department has already spent an amount of around Rs 50 crore.
The six-year programme aims to ameliorate the ecology and environment of Sohra plateau by restoring degraded lands. It also aims at minimizing human activities detrimental to the environment.
