WGH DC prohibits tree felling to preserve catchment areas

TURA, Feb 15: The District Magistrate of West Garo Hills has prohibited 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.
In this regard, an order was issued under Section 144 Cr PC dictating the prohibitions in the specified 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.
Notably, the order came after it was allegedly 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.
However, soon after to address the issues, a meeting of the Nokma, VECs, church leaders and other stakeholders was held at the DRDO Conference Hall in Tura on February 9.
In the meeting, it was thus resolved to take actions against the ecologically-harmful activities and to organise massive plantation of water recharging species trees.
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.