Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 88/22

CHIEF MINISTER LAUNCHES PROJECT ON PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (PES) APPROACH ON02.04.2022

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, launched the Pilot Project on Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Approach for Restoration of Ganol Catchment worth Rs. 1.20 crores and distributed cheques to the producer groups under the FOCUS in the presence of Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister, Thomas A Sangma, Govt. Chief Whip, Marcuise N Marak, Principal Secretary to the Govt. And the CEO of MBDA, P Sampath Kumar, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, President of the Council of Nokmas, Skylance G Momin, officials of line departments, the Nokmas and villagers of 20 villages of Ganol catchment areas at Asanang village in Rongram C&RD Block on 2 April.

Launching the project, the chief minister said that today we are seeing so much of degradation of forests and most of the water bodies are drying up and the people are not getting enough water supply. Informing that climate is changing and at the same time livelihood also is going down, he said that in this situation the Govt. had to come out with a program that would be able to address all these issues and hence the program for PES was made. In this project the Govt. will be not only telling the public about the different policies and different actions that they should do but also helping them financially to be able to make up for the loss of livelihood or the challenges that they might face in the process and at the same time to ensure that the Govt. works in collaboration with the community to be able to build trust and faith and be able to work together to find a solution to different environmental problems. He also said that the challenge is to balance livelihood and yet maintain the environment which is the crux of the problem and that is why the Govt. had to come up with different innovative methods.The chief minister also informed that the Govt. is planning to have 4200 square kilometre catchment areas in the state and informed that the Govt. will provide all necessary help and support to the people through various departments to improve their livelihood.

In his address, the Chief Adviser to the CM, Thomas A Sangma, lauded the chief minister for the noble initiative and sought the cooperation and support of the people for the successful implementation of the pilot project.

The Govt. Chief Whip, Marcuise N Marak, urged the villagers to take initiatives for preservation of catchment areas of Ganol river and sought the cooperation and support of the people to restore the natural environment.

The CEO of the MBDA, P Sampath Kumar, delivered the key-note address and the Director of the Centre of Excellence, Dr. S Ashutosh, deliberated on the framework of PES.

On the day the chief minister also released the Inception Report and distributed cheques to 50 producer groups under the FOCUS program

West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh, delivered the welcome address and the Additional Project Director of CLLMP, DB Gunanka, proposed the vote of thanks.