Japan helping India with the cherry blossom plantation
SHILLONG: One need not travel all the way to Japan anymore to witness the Cherry Blossom festival for the same can be experienced right here in Shillong.
The capital of Meghalaya is in full bloom with pink and white cherry blossoms all along the roadside and the famous Ward’s Lake.
Realizing the importance of cherry blossom to promote socio-economic development in the North East through eco-tourism, Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director of Institute of Bio resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), a National Institute of Government of India initiated a major Cherry Blossom Festival initiative in association with the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority and Forest Department, Government of Meghalaya in May 2015.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday about the initiative, Prof Sahoo said that so far around 1600 cherry blossom trees have been planted in different parts of the city including New Shillong Township and Umiam.
He said that it will be a win-win situation for the state once the cherry blossom trees come up and added that the tourists visiting the state would be fascinated with the beauty of Shillong.
He said that the impact of such an initiative was also felt in Japan as a team of six people comprising the president and other office bearers of the Japanese Cherry Blossom Association visited India in September 2015 to spearhead the initiative.
Now, the Japanese Cherry Blossom Association in association with IBSD is planning to spearhead this movement in different parts of India. The cherry blossom, which is in full bloom in Shillong since the last one week, will only last for a maximum of a week to 10 days. It has given a pinkish and whitish look to the city.
Prof Sahoo urged the local people as well as the tourists from across the world to visit Shillong including Ward’s Lake to have a glimpse of this beauty of the nature.
Prof Sahoo said, “If we miss this opportunity, maybe we have to wait for one more year till next November.”
On the other hand, Additional PCCF, Social Forestry and Wildlife Y Shullai said that they would now ask the National Highway Authority to provide necessary funds for planting avenue plantation all along the highway.
“We will also identify places in Shillong where we can plant tress such as cherry blossom and jacaranda besides we will also plant trees in tourist spots of the city,” he said.