Environment protection - Cherrapunjee shows the way to others
Source: The Sangai Express

SOHRA (Cherrapunjee), September 13: With the depletion of forest area starting to impact on the climatic condition of Cherrapunjee, which still has the unique distinction of receiving the highest rainfall in the whole world, people living in the border area of Meghalaya have become more environmentally conscious and have come up with various innovative projects to conserve the forest resources without waiting for the Government to act.

Villagers wait for the boat to cross Shella river on the borderL

Among these initiatives, Project Eco-Education encourage the school students to plant trees by giving monetary incentives for their efforts while the concept of Community Tourism is gaining ground with direct participation of the people to promote tourism industry and conservation of the natural environs of Cherrapunjee.

A team of mediapersons from different parts of North Eastern region who participated in a study tour conducted under the theme of �Lived realities at border� by Panos South Asia, Guwahati Office recently learnt about the noble and innovative projects being taken up by the villagers residing in the border areas of Meghalaya along Indo-Bangladesh boundary.

A perceptible change in the climatic condition of the border areas of Meghalaya including Charapunjee in the East Khasi Hills District where an average annual rainfall of 11931.7 mm is recorded, has been brought about due to unceasing human activities like indiscriminate felling of trees and limestone quarrying.

With natural deposit of limestone found in abundance not only in touristic paradise of Cherrapunjee but also in other districts in the border area, quarrying is being practised far and wide and many multi-national companies have set up cement factories, much to the envy of the neighbouring country.

While interacting with the touring mediapersons, Denis P Rayen, a Tamilian entrepreneur , who gave up his post as the manager of Punjab National Bank and set up the only Cherrapunjee Holiday Resort, explained that the Eco Education Project and community tourism project have been launched to conserve the forest resources of Cherrapunjee.

After tying up with four schools of the area which is located 78 kms from Shillong, the Eco-Education Project has been launched to encourage participation of students in conservation/preservation of forest resources.

Under this project, each of the students of the adopted four schools are given an incentive reward of Rs 100 every month for plantation of one tree and looking after its growth.

The patrons of the project deposited the amount to be given the students to the school authorities and the same is used for the education of the students, thus lessening the financial burden of the poor parents to some extent.

On the other hand, with the main objective of improving the financial position of the people, Community Tourism project has been launched at Laitkynsew village of Cherrapunjee.

Under this project, each household maintains one separate room and a clean toilet for hiring out to international and domestic tourists who visited Cherrapunjee.

The visitors are also provided home cooked food during their stay, thus giving a unique experience of the lifestyles and cuisines of the local people.

One family can earn at least Rs 9000 in a month under the project.

K Romesh, chief of Laitkynsew village and son-in-law of former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha late Prof GG Swell, said visiting tourists do not find any difficulty with regard to fooding and lodging, the villagers really treat them well.

When asked how the wet cloths are dried in such a place which is either raining or remains envelop in dark cloud throughout the year, he informed that there is sunshine for atleast two months in a year.

At one time it took even one to 2 months to dry up a wet cloth, but now heaters are being used for the purpose.

76-year old Romesh, who retired from Government service in 1971, further informed that villagers usually charged Rs 100 to 200 for spending one night in their houses from the visiting tourist.

With the popularity of the concept of Community tourism, the Meghalaya Government has also come up with the plan of setting up a tourist park in the area.

Around 480 tourists, both international and domestic, visit Cherrapunjee on an average every day, he informed.

The touring mediapersons did not come across any security personnel including police along the road from Shillong to the border area with exception to the vigilant BSF at the check post at the border.

A worker in a lime factory employing traditional method of production at Mawlong village located close to the Bangladeh border said they are paid Rs 80 as daily wage for crushing the lime stones.

The quarry they are working for belongs to one Mahajan.

One Mahajan is in possession of atleast not less than five such quarries.