SHILLONG: Though there is euphoria over tree plantations (over seven lakh saplings) on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday, the district administration and the forest department are yet to come up with any plan for making the urban area green.
Concrete structures have come up thanks to the mindless granting of permission by Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) without insisting that the building plan should have a space for green areas.
Officials with the district administration and forest department admitted that they are yet to have a plan for the urban areas to maintain greenery unlike other cities in the country.
Though Shillong is one of the hill stations, there are no green lungs which can provide healthy environment to its people. Greenery is also missing in the parks in and around the city which are maintained either by the private parties or government.
After the devastating fire gutted the heritage Assembly building, the Government had engaged in beautification of Kyndailad (Police Bazar). In the name of beautification and widening of the road at Police Bazar, several trees in the old Assembly premises were cut by the Government which had evoked public criticism. The Government had assured that several trees will be planted at the old Assembly premises to maintain greenery, but in vain.
“We have to work out a plan for tree plantations in the urban areas of the city”, a senior forest official said, adding that several areas need to be surveyed in this regard.
