James directs Forest dept to formulate plan

SHILLONG, May 3: Concerned over the rapid degradation of catchment areas in Meghalaya, Forest and Environment Minister James Sangma has directed his department to prepare a comprehensive plan to identify these vulnerable catchment areas.
Elucidating the plan, James said that it also involves identification of land owners so as to ascertain whether the land belongs to the community or individual, besides checking the level of degradation and to formulation a plan of action streamlining the process of stopping further degradation and deforestation while also arresting the soil erosion taking place.
Admitting that the exercise will be a challenge since it requires coordination between different departments, James informed that the government is on the job to ensure that the degradation of catchment areas is reversed.
Reacting to a query on rivers in the state turning acidic, the minister said that the government is working on rover rejuvenation programmes to revive them, while also calling for a reduction in the leakage of acid content in river sources.
The government wants the land owners of the catchment areas to collaborate with the authorities in protecting these areas.