Shillong, Oct 18: The Minister of Forests and Environment, James P K Sangma, presented the first instalment of payments to the Village PES Committees (PES) under the PES Pilot Project for the Ganol Catchment on Monday at Oragitok, West Garo Hills.

‘The Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Pilot Project for the Restoration of Ganol Catchment’, the first initiative of its kind in India, was launched on 2nd April, 2022, in the State by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and celebrated the achievement of its first Milestone – identification of lands/areas for implementation of the PES Activities and Boundary Demarcation of the same using GIS.

Out of the 20 villages that were selected along the Ganol Catchment for the Pilot Project, 18 VPCs were presented with the first instalment of payment by the Minister of Forests and Environment, James P K Sangma. The Minister expressed his joy in seeing the voluntary spirit of the communities in taking up Conservation and Restoration activities in their own villages. He also lauded the leadership of the Nokmas in encouraging the communities to look towards the future and conserving the Forest cover for the benefit of the younger generations.

The Minister also re-iterated that many states in India as well as other countries had taken keen interest in the implementation of PES in Meghalaya and that the Government would extend the PES Project to other major catchment areas in the State such as Simsang and Umiew. He congratulated the VPCs in being part of a momentous event in the history of Meghalaya.

The Minister was also joined by the CEM of GHADC, Albinush Marak, as well as the Director & Co-Chairman of the Centre of Excellence, Dr. Subhash Ashutosh, who had been pivotal in conducting studies and producing the Inception Report for the PES Pilot Project. Dr. Ashutosh explained that the concept of PES for the sake of conserving the forest cover in the State in the interest of combating NRM issues related to water scarcity, soil degradation and rapid deforestation, was brought up by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, and over time, with the current leadership in the State, PES has become a reality.

A total of over Rs. 15 lakh was paid to the VPCs as part of the First Instalment on the occasion.