Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 205/21

UNION HOME MINISTER AMIT SHAH INAUGURATES THE GREATER SOHRA WATER SUPPLY SCHEME ON 25TH JULY 2021

Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Meghalaya’s Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the much-awaited and prestigious “Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme” in the presence of DoNER Minister G Kishan Reddy, MoS DoNER B L Verma and MoS Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, PHE Minister Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar at Sohra in East Khasi Hills on 25th July 2021.

The Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme was conceptualized by the Government of Meghalaya and funded by the Ministry of DoNER under NESIDS in the year 2019 at an amount of Rs. 24.08 cr. The project will provide water supply to Sohra Town and 12 (twelve) habitations viz. Sderkariah, Khlieh Shnong, Maraikaphon, Pdengshnong, Nongrim, Pomsohmen, Nongsawlia, Mawkisyiem, Saitsohpen, Mawpunkyrtiang, Pynshadkhurai & Kutmadan by tapping the stream source of Wah Lyngksiar and Law Sanlait Spring Sources. The project is designed to cover a total population of 22,943 persons.

In his address, Amit Shah said that as part of the Prime Minister's ambitious project Jal Jeevan Mission, the Ministry of DoNER and the Government of Meghalaya, under the North-East Special Infrastructure Scheme, implemented the Greater Sohra Water Project costing Rs. 25 crore, which will provide pure drinking water through taps to every household. Shah said that if the source of water is not pure then people will not be healthy, therefore PM Modi has set the target of providing pure drinking water to every household in the state of Meghalaya and the country before the completion of 75 years of Independence and 50 years of Meghalaya’s Statehood.

Press Release No. 206/21

UNION HOME MINISTER AMIT SHAH LAUNCHES THE SOHRA AFFORESTATION PROJECT ON 25TH JULY 2021

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Sohra Afforestation Project, which is a joint initiative of DGAR and Government of Meghalaya, during his visit to Sohra on 25th July 2021. The Sohra Afforestation Project includes Block plantations proposed to be carried in 3000 Ha, Silvi, Aromatic, Pastoral Development in 3000 Ha, Fuel wood plantations proposed to be carried in 2000 Ha, 1000 Ha. of Broom grass plantations, Dense plantation using Miyawaki method to be carried out in over 200 Ha, Planting 50000 ornamental trees for enhancing tourism potential, Establishment of 14 nurseries, Forest fire control measures and Capacity building of the local communities in Natural Resource Management. The plantations would be completed within 3 years and maintenance support would be provided up to 5 years.

Speaking during the occasion, Union Home Minister Amit Shah underlined the importance of afforestation and tree plantation. The Home Minister said that earlier Sohra used to have rains throughout the year, but due to indiscriminate harvesting in the name of development, the situation has changed. He said that an ambitious project to make Sohra green again has started today. Amit Shah informed that the entire area of Sohra is going to be adopted by Assam Rifles for the purpose of plantation. Shah said that our country is intact because of the paramilitary forces deployed to protect the country's borders. Since the last two years they are also shouldering the responsibility of improving the environment and so far have planted one crore & forty eight lakh trees, out of which one crore thirty six lakh plants are growing. He said that this year also about one crore saplings will be planted in different areas by making a strategy and in the next three years a target has been set to plant 1 million trees in 1000 hectares.

The Union Home Minister said that the whole world is fighting against global warming and climate change. “Narendra Modi has done the work of reducing carbon emissions by distributing a large number of cooking gas cylinders across the country and today India is at the forefront in hydropower and solar power sectors,” he said. Shah said that with the proposed action plan of PM Modi at the Paris Agreement, the whole world is fighting against global warming and carbon emissions.