Khliehriat, June 5: As part of the Meghalaya Environment Week 2022 to observe the World Environment Day, Meghalaya Forests & Environment Minister James P.K. Sangma on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the Project “Restoration of Kyrhuhkhla and Lunar Rivers using Phycoremediation Technology” at Umsyllih, Khliehriat West and also launched the project “Reclamation of Coal mining-affected land through afforestation” at Pohskhen, Khliehriat East.

It may also be mentioned that the restoration of Kyrhuhkhla and Lunar River project is being implemented by Trinity International and funded by the MEPRF and it will benefit 25 villages in the district that fall on the path of the Lunar river.

Addressing the programme, the Forests & Environment Minister said that the project is being done after the successful completion of the pilot project in certain points of the Lukha River by Trinity International. Speaking on the theme of the World Environment Day 2022 “Only One Earth”, he said that for life to sustain itself or to exist there are two things that are required – air and water – and the two programmes launched bear a lot of significance as it is related to water and air.

The Forest and Environment Minister also stated that the phycoremediation project is a simple project using nature to solve nature problems. He also 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.

He also thanked the Deputy Director General of Forest Ministry of Environment and Forest, Climate Change, Regional Office, Shillong, Imtienla Ao, the Government of India, and the officials of the Department of Mining and Geology, Forest and Environment Department and the Trinity International for their hard work and support in making these projects a reality.

Chairman, State Expert Appraisal Committee, Nabha Battacharya, 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). 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 stated that it is only algae that can destroy sulphur 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.

Commissioner and Secretary, Forest and Environment, Government of Meghalaya, S.M.A. Razi, 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.

During the programme, prizes were also distributed to the winners of Essay Competition, Drawing & painting and Slogan organized to celebrate the World Environment Day 2022. Also, as part of the Environment week, the Minister of Forest and Environment Department along with the officials also planted saplings at Umsyllih, Khliehriat West, and at the coal mining affected land at Pohskhen, Khliehriat East. 3,000 saplings were planted which saw the participation of principals, teachers, students, coal mine owners, the public and local headmen.