Williamnagar, April 29: The East Garo Hills Soil and Water Conservation Department, in collaboration with local stakeholders, including Nokmas, organised a one-day awareness-cum-sensitization programme on the Simsang River Basin at DRDA Hall-I, Williamnagar, on Monday. Soil and Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N Marak attended the event as the chief guest.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Marak outlined the government’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable development across Meghalaya. Emphasising the need to curb jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation, he announced that alternative livelihood measures would be introduced with the active support of local stakeholders. These initiatives aim to conserve and protect the Simsang River and its vital catchment areas.
He further informed the participants that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Simsang River Basin is being prepared and will soon be submitted to the Brahmaputra Board for consideration.
The minister also held an interactive session with Nokmas from the Simsang catchment area, urging them to extend full cooperation to the government’s efforts in preventing large-scale jhum cultivation.
East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Reuben Ch Momin also addressed the gathering, highlighting the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation, and shifting cultivation practices on the region. He encouraged stakeholders to adopt Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) and other sustainable farming methods to safeguard the basin.
Tingring R Marak, a conservationist from Tura and the resource person for the programme, delivered an in-depth presentation on the ecological importance of the Simsang basin and stressed the need for its protection from the source downstream.
In his welcome and keynote address, Corbeth Homa D Sangma, Divisional Soil and Water Conservation Officer of Simsanggre (T) Division, called on stakeholders to adopt scientific farming methods and undertake tree plantation drives to preserve the river’s catchment areas.
Other speakers included former Samanda C&RD Block BDO, Seldin N Sangma. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Promithson Ch Marak, Range Officer of the Soil and Water Conservation Department.
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