1334 saplings set on fire
SHILLONG: The Sohra Eco-restoration project worth several crores of rupees continues to face hurdles with miscreants torching tree saplings scattered over several villages under the project area.
Plating of trees in several identified villages to rejuvenate the landscape is part of the Eco-restoration project.
In the recent case, HS Kharpran, Divisional Soil and Water Conservation and Project Manager, Cherrapunjee Ecological Project Restoration of Degraded Land under Sohra Plateau, lodged a complaint that on January 14, unknown miscreants set on fire as many as 1334 tree saplings at Wahkaliar, Khlieh Shnong, Sohra.
Earlier on October 23 last year, the President of Barefoot Environment Educators, Armeson K Budon, who is supervising the conservation of the environment at Sohra, had lodged a complaint with the police that unknown miscreants had torched 850 saplings belonging to the Ecological project at Lynteikiar, Mawsmai.
The project worth Rs.87.16 crore started in 2010-11 had suffered a setback after the State Government withdrew an amount Rs.27 crore citing financial crunch. The target to complete the project is six years.
An area of 11092 hectares covering 45 villages has been identified for the project which aims at restoring the ecology and environment of Sohra.
