Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 183/22

OBSERVATION OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2022 AT SHILLONG GOLF COURSE ON 03.06.2022

As a run up to the Environment Week celebration, today the Social Forestry & Environment Wing, Meghalaya, Shillong in collaboration with Shillong Club, Department of Sociology, Lady Keane College and Education Department, NEHU organize Cherry Blossom Trees plantation at Shillong Golf Course. Forests & Environment Minister, Meghalaya, Shri. James P K Sangma was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Officials from the Forests Department, Shillong Golf Course, Shillong Club, various stakeholders and students took part in the tree plantation programme.

In his speech, the Minister acknowledged the initiative taken by the organizers to plant trees along the periphery of the Shillong Golf Course, adding that preserving the greenery of this Green Island of Shillong city is the need of the hour in order to bring this patch of land to its natural glory. The planting of 1500 Cherry Blossom Trees should relay a strong message to the citizens that climate change should be taken seriously, said the Minister. He reiterated that the save environment campaign should not end here and we should shy away from tokenism, symbolism and imbibe this commitment in our everyday lives. ‘Everyday should be Environment Day’, said the Minister, while urging the students and millennials to dedicate themselves to save planet earth.

While lamenting the fact that the forest cover in the State has reduced by 73 sq kms, the Minister said that we as stakeholders should start to move ahead and find solutions on how to tackle climate change. He said that in these last three years, the Government has transitioned from just regulating the acts and rules to design out of the box solutions and interventions. For this, the Minister said that the government is cooperating and collaborating with communities to ‘use nature to solve nature’s problem’ while citing example of the Phytoremediation method to detoxify the Lukha river where Algae was used to remove major toxic contents from the water to improve the pH balance of the river.

The Minister urged upon each individual to shoulder the responsibility along with the government to tackle climate change by working towards restoration of nature’s valuable resources and to rededicate ourselves to save our planet Earth.

The highlight of the day was the distribution of Meghalaya Excellence Award for Environment Protection to Shri Tambor Lyngdoh of Dongiewrim Mawphlang for his effort to protect and preserve the natural resources in private and community forests and to Ka Synjuk ki Hima Arliang Wah Umiam Mawphlang Welfare Society Dongiewrim Mawphlang for setting up of grassroot level organisation for motivating people in conserving the environment and promoting sustainable use of natural resources. The award carried a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh and a memento.

Prizes were also distributed to students who took part in the drawing, painting, elocution and slogan writing competition.

Others who spoke on the occasion were Shri. B K Lyngwa, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF, Shri. Hector Marwein, Director of Shillong Club who delivered the welcome address and Shri. W S Manners, Chief Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry & Environment) Meghalaya who proposed the vote of thanks.

Press Release No. 184/22

MASS AFFORESTATION LAUNCHED AT TYNRONG JAKREM IN OBSERVANCE OF WORLD ENVIRONMENT WEEK ON 03.06.2022

As part of the observance of World Environment Week, the office of the Divisional Soil & Water Conservation, South West Khasi Hills District, Mawkyrwat today launched mass Afforestation on the theme, “Only one Earth” at Tynrong (Synrang Syiem) Jakrem, in which shri. S.C. Laloo, Additional Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills District was the chief guest.

While speaking on the occasion as Chief Guest, shri. Laloo said that the afforestation programme which was organized today with a view to create awareness for worldwide protection of our environment is part of the observance of the Environment Week. While laying great stresses on the need of preservation and conservation of the environment, he apprised them that the purpose of afforestation is to restore the area that has been destroyed due to human activities such as exploitation of natural resources, de-forestation etc. He thereby encouraged one and all to plant more trees in order to tackle the problems of global warming, pollution etc., which can help in maintaining the fertility of the soil, retention of water, better productivity and in bringing back the balance and harmony in nature.

Shri. O. Khardewsaw, Divisional Soil & Water Conservation Officer, South West Khasi Hills District said that planting trees can solve or address the issues of soil erosion and at the same time acts as a shield of protection of the ozone layer and in the retention of water sources, he therefore encouraged the community by calling for support in protecting and in growing more trees in future.

Dr. E. Khongjoh, District Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Officer, South West Khasi Hills District said that with the growth in population, our environment has been destroyed and depleted. Thus this has give rise to pollution and destruction of water sources. He therefore, urged upon one and all to preserve and protect the environment as man cannot live without water or air.

St. Michael Upper Primary School, Pyndenspar, Jakrem presented a welcome song while, shri. Hardine Wanniang presented with a theme song.

Shri. N.S. Wanniang, Range Officer Mawkyrwat Range Office, who chaired the function delivered the welcome address while shri. W. Warbah, AS&WCO offered the vote of thanks.

Press Release No. 185/22

AFFORESTATION DRIVE LAUNCHED IN SOUTH WEST GARO HILLS DISTRICT ON 03.06.2022

A mass afforestation drive was conducted at Malchapara on June 3rd as part of the week long world environment day celebrations. The afforestation drive was launched at a gathering themed “Reclamation Day” organized by the Divisional Soil & Water Conservation Officer, South West Garo Hills, Ampati at Malchapara Multi Facility Centre. The afforestation drive at Malchapara was part of a larger mission wherein the department of soil & water conservation with the help of villagers will plant tree saplings in all the three C&RD blocks of the district. Altogether 100 hectares of identified land comprising of 30 hectares in Rerapara C&RD Block and 35 hectares each in Betasing and Zikzak C&RD Blocks will be planted with nitrogen fixing and fruit tree saplings. The project which has been sanctioned with an estimate of 95.52 lakhs aims at restoring water catchment areas as well as preventing runoff will benefit 49 villages of the district informed H D Sangma, Divisional Soil & Water Conservation Officer.

Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest Stevie M Marak, Executive Member, Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) urged the stakeholders to take up the responsibility to look after planted saplings and ensure its health growth. Speaking on the need of active community participation in such drives Marak recommended the involvement of school and college students in future activities. Later thanking the department of soil & water conservation for conducting programme he also thanked the Nokma of Malchapara for giving 5 hectares of land for mass afforestation drive.

Also speaking at the occasion, South West Garo Hills Additional Deputy Commissioner P K Sangma stated that the people had to change their mind set and decide to be a part of the solution and not pollution. She spoke on the importance of cultivating healthy consciousness of the environment that we live in and to propagate conservation by limiting wastage of natural resources.

Meanwhile along with the rest of the state, Meghalaya Environment Week is being observed as part of World Environment Day 2022 with tree plantations and other activities across the district of South West Garo Hills organized by the District Administration in collaboration with MBMA-CLLMP throughout the week. As such, debate, essay writing and drawing competitions on the theme for this year “Only One Earth” were organized at Mothers’ Union School, Ampati on Friday, tree plantation was conducted around Kumli Lake near Ampati on Thursday, while plantation drive is being taken up in and around DC’s Office Complex on Saturday.

At block and village levels, communities have been asked to collect saplings from the forested areas and plant them in areas where there no trees and take ownership of the same.