Cherry Blossom plantation drive in city

SHILLONG: As a precursor to India’s first Cherry Blossom Festival in the State, the Avenue Cherry Tree Plantation was launched at Ward’s Lake in the presence of Minister for Forest & Environment Prestone Tynsong here on Thursday.
The plantation was organized by the Department of Forest & Environment in collaboration with the Institute of Bio-resources & Sustainable Development (IBSD), Government of India, and the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) to have an avenue plantation of cherry plants to give Shillong a unique and distinct look.
The plantation of cherry trees was carried out by the dignitaries, officials of the department and others on the Ward’s Lake premises, in front of the State Convention Centre and other sites in the city.
Launching the plantation in a brief but impressive function, the government stated that Shillong has the fame of being one of the most beautiful hill stations in the country, and there is a need to ensure that it keeps up its name and fame futuristically.
Forest & Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong, who spoke briefly on the occasion, expressed his hope that with this designed avenue plantation of cherry trees there will be an increase in the number of visitors and tourists coming to the State.
Earlier, the Director of IBSD, Manipur, Prof. D. Sahoo, said this idea was born after he saw wild cherry trees being grown in a haphazard manner in Shillong.
“The State has a lot of potential in terms of eco-tourism and employment generation and we can utilize this unique bio-resource with a proper design so that after Japan when people talk of cherry blossoms they will talk about India and they will talk about Shillong,” he said.