Tura, Feb 15: The District Magistrate in West Garo Hills has issued an Order under Section 144 Cr PC prohibiting rampant felling of trees and deforestation near the water bodies as well as the destruction of any water sources and catchment areas in the district.
The order comes following the decision taken in a meeting held on February 9 at the DRDA Conference Hall in Tura with Nokmas, VECs, Church Leaders and other stakeholders wherein it was resolved to organise massive plantation of water recharging species trees by VECs and other stakeholders in all water catchment areas and hill tops in the coming season.
With the Government of India launching the Jal Jeevan Mission to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all households in rural areas, the scheme is being implemented in all the districts. However, it was noticed that streams and water sources in the catchment areas are drying up mainly due to deforestation, commercial plantation and illegal commercial sand and stone mining activities. The order was issued to address this problem.
A direction has also been given to the general public of the District especially the A’king Nokmas and VECs to maintain an Area of 50 metres from both sides of the river beds and catchment areas to be covered under plantation of water retaining species in every village especially near major rivers and streams in the district and forgo any commercial crop plantation in the catchment areas which depletes the water resources, water bodies and catchment areas.
The order also prohibits the plantation of commercial mono cropping practices and felling of water retaining species in the catchment areas and illegal commercial sand and stone mining activities across the district.
“Not following the advisory shall be an offence and a public nuisance apart from attracting penal provisions of Section 188 of IPC for the violation of the order,” the order warned.