Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 521/07

VANMAHOTSAV 2007 CELEBRATION AT BARONGPARA

As part of the celebration of the “VANMAHOTSAV 2007”, the Social Forestry Department, in collaboration with ADRA, a Garo Hills based NGO for conservation and protection of environment, the Nokmas Council and other NGOs organized a day long Environmental Campaign at Barengapara a Secondary School complex under Dalu Block in west Garo Hills on July 26, 2007.

It may be mentioned that the VANMAHOTSAV 2007 or the “Festival of Trees” is being celebrated every year by the Forest & Environment Department to promote farm forestry and also to create awareness among the general masses the need to conserve and plant trees to guard against environmental degradation.

Local MLA and Co-Chairman, State Planning Board, Mr. Brening A. Sangma, while speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion said that the objective of the Programme was not only to plant trees but also to make the villagers aware of their responsibilities as citizens towards conservation and protection of their environment. He also stressed on the importance of forming Joint Forest management Groups in their village through which they could avail the various schemes being provided by the government through Social Forestry department.

Other who spoke on the occasion were Mr. S. G. Momin (Retd), Mr. A.M. Marak President of ADRA and the Range Forest Officer Mr. B. A. Sangma.

Press Release No. 522/07

DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER VISITED THE FLOOD AFFECTED AREAS IN GARO HILLS

The Deputy Chief minister Dr. Mukul M. Sangma visited the landslide and flood affected areas in West Garo Hills on Sunday the July 29, 2007 to take stock of the situation and assess the extent of damages.

In the morning, Dr. Sangma visited Rishipara in Nakham Bazar areas where nine people were buried alive and washed away on Friday last and also visited the relief camp at Pechon Sangma Memorial School at Parade Ground where around 200 victims were being rehabilitated.

Dr. Sangma was accompanied by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Mr. P. Sampath Kumar, who apprised him of the precautionary measures and damage control exercise being taken up by the District Administration.

The Deputy Chief Minister also met the officials of the Departments concerned and called upon them to prepare themselves to respond to any emergency that may arise. He also said that the officers must ensure that reports are given on time and to see that the extents of damages are projected correctedly. He particularly instructed the PWD and PHE departments to begin restoration works immediately with available funds without waiting for financial assistance from the Government, because only when damage roads are restored relief and rehabilitation works can be carried out.

At Garobadha, Dr. Sangma inspected the relief distribution to the affected families of 24 villages. Altogether 10,471 kg of rice, 1102 kg of Dal and 201 kg of salt were distributed as per relief manual.

Later he proceeded to Singimari, Rajabala, Bhaitbari, Hallidaganj where he visited the relief camps and also met the Village Disaster Management Committee where he instructed the Officers concerned to mobilized Village Employment Council for relief distribution and also asked the Village Disaster Management Committee to trained the volunteers for creating awareness to take precautionary measures to prevent Waterborne Diseases.

Altogether 91 villages in the belt areas of the district have been submerged or affected by floods and 10 relief camps have been setup to provide shelter to about 6200 affected persons.