3000 saplings planted in rich coal belt areas in Khliehriat

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 5, 2022

As part of the Meghalaya Environment Week 2022, a massive tree plantation of 3000 saplings was undertaken in the rich coal belt of East Jaintia Hills District on Saturday in Khliehriat.

The saplings were planted by teachers, students, coal mine owners, general public and local headmen.

Initiated by Forest and Environment Department and Mining and Geology Department, the plantation was organized by the office of Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife Division) and Social Forestry Division, Jaintia Hills, Jowai.

A formal programme before the plantation was held at Community Hall, Khliehriat West on the theme of the World Environment Day 2022 “Only One Earth”.

Speaking as chief guest, Forests & Environment Minister James PK Sangma said that for life to sustain itself or to exist there are two things that are required, air and water.

He also said that the phycoremediation project initiated by the government at Kyrhuhkhla and Lunar river is a simple project using nature to solve nature problems.

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Sangma said that the Government is coming up with out of the box solutions and will move forward to finding a solution in nature called bioremediation to solve the environmental problems.

“This is a project of such great importance as it is going to benefit the people of this area, the rivers will come back to life and we will use this technology and keep scaling it up to also include other rivers in our state” he added.

Naba Bhattacharjee, Chairman, State Expert Appraisal Committee, in his keynote address said that in the year 2018, the Government took up the initiative to rejuvenate the different rivers of the state, particularly with emphasis on rivers that have been affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).

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Speaking on the Project “Restoration of Kyrhuhkhla and Lunar Rivers” Using Phycoremediation Technology, he said that it took three years to formulate and strategize the project with lots of research involved in it.

He further said that it is only algae that can destroy sulfur emanated from coal and phycoremediation is a part of bioremediation where the impurities of the water can be treated by the algae in a natural way and it is also eco-friendly and carbon neutral.

He also informed that from 20 algae ponds the algae will be released for the treatment of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and other issues of the rivers in the district.

SMA Razi, IRTS, Commissioner and Secretary, Forest and Environment, Government of Meghalaya in his speech said these restoration and rejuvenation efforts go a long way towards restoring the environment, the quality and purity of water, and also addressing the climate change reality that has impacted all around the world. He appealed to people present at the gathering to cooperate and participate in all these efforts that are carried out by the Government and the community in addressing climate change. “Environment has become a top priority for everyone and it is an effort towards making Meghalaya an environment-friendly and environment-conscious state” he added.

Secretary, Mining and Geology Department, Ethelbert Kharmalki said the setting up of algae plants to restore water bodies is a very important project and the fund for executing this project is from Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund (MEPRF) which was collected from the coal.

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He urged the people of 6 villages located near the Kyrhuhkhla river and 25 villages in Lunar to support the initiatives taken by the government and provide land to Trinity Impex International who execute the project of rejuvenation of water bodies.

Others who spoke includes Deputy Director General of Forest, Ministry & Environment & Forest, Climate Change, Regional Office, Shillong, Ms. Imtienla Ao, IFS, and B.K. Lyngwa, IFS, PCCF & HoFF, Meghalaya, Shillong.

The function was also attended by Dr. Manjunatha C IFS, PCCF& HoFF, Meghalaya, Shillong, A Baranwal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, IPS, Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat, and Sukhdev Singh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Trinity International among others.

During the programme, prizes were also distributed to the winners of the Essay Competition, Drawing & Painting and Slogan was organized to celebrate the World Environment Day 2022.

The Minister of Forest and Environment Department along with the officials planted saplings at Umsyllih, Khliehriat and also launched the project “Reclamation of Coal mining-affected land through afforestation” at Pohskhen, Khliehriat East.