TURA: The West Garo Hills District Administration is considering providing alternative livelihood options to villagers residing in the Nokrek region in an effort to prevent further destruction of forests and water catchment areas due to jhum cultivation which has been the practice by local residents since ages.
A meeting in this regard was recently convened by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh with Nokmas of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and Tura Peak area which was also attended by officials of different departments including the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Forest and Environment, Soil and Water Conservation, PWD, PHE, Agriculture, Horticulture and Block Development Officers of the district at DRDA Conference Hall Tura.
During the meeting, Ram Singh apprised the gathering about the concerns raised by the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment, which recently visited the district, that there was massive destruction of natural forest cover for practicing jhum cultivation in Nokrek Biosphere Reserve thereby threatening the sources of Simsang, Ganol rivers and Didare which originates from the Nokrek region and the main source of water supply to the people of Garo Hills region in general and Tura in particular. He further informed that the members had stated that these water sources are not maintained well and time may come when they will dry up if jhuming is continued in the upper stream and near catchment areas. Considering the importance of preserving the Nokrek catchment areas and since it belongs to the A∙king land of the Nokmas of the area, Ram Singh urged the line departments to provide alternate livelihood opportunities so as to wean away from jhum cultivation and facilitate to protect the Biosphere Reserve and water catchment area for our future generation.
Speaking on the same lines, Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial), West Garo Hills Division, Sachin Gavade suggested the intervention of other line departments for providing job or other livelihood opportunities for them if possible so as to uplift the economic condition of the people of the region. He also informed that as per their record jhuming is showing a downward trend which most probably might be due to the result of the interventions already in place by various departments.
Rongram Community and Rural Development Block BDO, Shelley Momin highlighted the different activities being undertaken by the block in the area such as issuance of job cards under MGNREGA, various plantation activities under Bottom 20 in which people plant indigenous plants at Dura Kalakgre near Didare stream, bamboo plantation amongst others. Momin, along with Nokma of Akonggre, Rakkan Sangma also raised concern over the practice of spraying chemical herbicides for jungle clearing and expressed surprise that the same is openly being sold in the market.
Emphasizing the problems of livelihood of the people of Nokrek region, the Project Director, DRDA, Tura C N Sangma said that the government has been issuing rice, etc to the people through Supply department and added that the responsibility is inter-dependent and both government and people should help each other.
President of the Nokima Council, Skylance G Momin urged his counterparts from Nokrek region to be judicious with the land used for jhuming and claim only the portion they can manage to cultivate since many times it was noticed that they have a tendency to claim a large part of land and is unable to cultivate them all which results in abandoning and destruction of forest cover. Moreover, he urged them to consult the expertise in different departments and plant only those species suitable to the region for better harvest. He also encouraged them to preserve and increase the growth of medicinal plants in the region as it has potential market value as government is promoting Ayush medicine in the country. He also suggested the Nokmas to control illegal fishing in their respective areas and to inform the police department if they come across any new person in their villages.
The issue of illegal stone collection being done in Babupara locality located at the base of Tura Peak was also raised by the Nokma of Nikrang Ading locality.
Others who also spoke during the meeting include, officials of the GHADC (Forest), PWD and PHE and nokmas of concerned akings.