‘Meghalaya should be able to host country’s first cherry blossom fest by November’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With an aim to prepare the State to host the first cherry blossom festival in the country, the Centre has proposed to introduce the plantation of the flower trees in Meghalaya.
Cherry blossoms have long been associated with Japan, where viewing the short-lived blooms is an enduringly popular pastime to herald the arrival of spring. The flower is also found in plenty in both China and South Korea.
“The Centre has decided to introduce cherry blossom plantation in Meghalaya since its climatic condition and topography is quite similar to Japan,” Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) director, Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo told newsmen here on Monday adding that the cherry blossom festival in Meghalaya will be similar to the event held at Sakura in Japan every year.
He further informed that a mass plantation of cherry blossom trees will be taken up in two stages in Shillong and along the stretch of Umiam by next month. Divulging more details, the IBSD director said that with prior approval of the Meghalaya government, the first stage of the cherry blossom tree plantation will be underway next month wherein as many as 5000 saplings will be planted in Shillong; the second stage will follow suit in Barapani and interiors of Shillong.
According to Prof Sahoo, Meghalaya’s climate encouraged the Centre to try and replicate the hugely popular cherry blossom festival of Japan in the state.
“If everything works as per plan, the State should be able to hold the festival by November,” he said adding that the festival besides giving Shillong a more beautiful look will also generate valuable revenue for the State.
Prof Sahoo informed that the entire project will be funded by the IBSD and the initial sanction amount is estimated to be Rs 10 lakh.
“The funds will be released as soon as the State Forest Department submits its estimate amount,” he added.
The IBSD Director also informed that recently, the Institute has also proposed to the state government to have a jacaranda avenue owing to the fact that this plant species is also available in the state.
“It would be an eye catching sight to witness different exclusive avenues of two different bio-resources blooming at the same time,” he said.
While mentioning that the mandate of the Institute is to develop India specially the North Eastern Region through bio-resources for sustainable development, Prof Sahoo said that each state in this region is unique in its own way.
“All we need to do is to capture that uniqueness and expose it nationally and internationally,” he added.