Meghalaya, a hilly state with the diverse agro-climatic ecological conditions Characterized by high rainfall and endowed with potentially rich natural resources, is at present under intense pressure and threat due to the depletion of the three basic resources of life supporting system, that is, land, water and vegetation induced by natural and human and livestock, over exploitation of natural resources, ill/inadequate land management practices etc, which are further deterioration of the ecosystem leading to an increase in the incidence of flash floods, sedimentation of streambeds and water reservoirs, land degradation, emergence of wasteland and eventually the aggravation of poverty and socio-economic fragility. In view of emerging policies, there was a felt need to bring about convergence, networking and harmonization through the adoption of compatible soil and water conservation practices to improve the productivity of natural resources in a sustained manner.

Mandate :

Natural resources management, in particular, the soil, water and vegetation resources in the context of perpetual utilization and sustainable development of the said resources to improve and sustain livelihood system and to aid in income earning activities of the user-communities.

Pre – requisites :

In this natural resources management endeavor, it is important for the local partners in development, that is, the local institutions, community, stakeholders, users to unreservedly, voluntarily and actively participates in the different phases-explanatory, planning phases and upward. Secondly, it is also equally required for other development departments to willingly practice for ensuring convergence to bring about holistic and realistic development of the people. Lastly, the importance of Public-Private-Partnership in up-scaling the natural resources management programmes require no emphasis.

To ensure that the service-deliveries promote and meet the afore-cited aim and objectives, a mechanism to take forward the system is required. They are underlined as follows:

Formulation of Land Use and Action Plan on a participatory mode; adoption of appropriate Soil & Water Conservation technique and measures preferable on a watershed basis, which is increasingly recognized as an ideal approach of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme. Strengthening the information, Education, Communication Systems, Capacity Building and Demonstration. Application of Science and technology and research and development inputs. Awareness campaign, mobilization and organization of the community, empowerment, building their capacity, upgradation of local skills. Promotion and encouragement of Self Help institutions and other promoting intuitions. Designing mechanism to monitor and evaluate socio – techno – economic impacts and results.

The Government of Meghalaya through the Department of Soil and Water Conservation has initiated a programme through the Eco Restoration to improve the ecology and environment of Sohra and its adjoining villages which encompasses a total of 45 villages.

Aims : 

Promote sustainable utilization of Soil, Water, Vegetation resources sustainable food support and water needs promote social, economic and ecological development.

Objectives :

Dissipating accelerated soil erosion, surface runoff and erosion of top soil. Enhancing water holding capacity of the soil. Improving soil moisture regime within the soil profile/monolith. Promoting soil health and tilth.. Providing soil cover with the forest trees/fruit trees/plantation crops, etc. Protection stream/river bank erosion and denudation of cultivable/cultivated land. Protecting drainage area of water sources. Harvesting rainwater of multipurpose utilities. Establishing micro-irrigation facilities. Enhancing agricultural crop productivity promoting integrated farming system. Promoting livelihood and gainful employment opportunities. Ameliorate the ecology and environment of Sohra Plateau. Restore Degraded Lands. Strengthen village level institutions or NRM minimize human activities detrimental to the environment create avenues for sustainable livelihood.

List of Officer Incharge with Designation :

List of villages with office in-charge :

Physical and Financial Achievements under Cherrapunjee Ecological Project Restoration of Degraded Lands under Sohra Plateau, Sohra, During 2010-2011 to 2012-13 :

A) Arable Land :

Bench Terracing – 20-33% slope
Agro-Horticulture
1. Citrus-orange, lemons.
2. Temperate Fruits-Pears, Plums, Peaches, other local species.
3. Sub-tropical improved variety fruits like Mango (Amrapali), Pomegranate, Litchi, Bananas, etc for lower altitude villages. Loose Boulder Bunds-for erosion control and reduced surface run-off.

B) Non Arable Land :

i. Establishment of Nurseries

Raising of poly-bag seedlings with indigenous species
Raising of poly-bag seedlings of small trees and shrubs by cuttings for Stream Bank Plantation
Construction of Camp Huts (6 nos)
Construction of Water Tanks with pipe connection and miscellaneous equipments (for 6 Nurseries).

ii. Afforestation 1st year preliminary works for accumulation of top soil in pits during the first season, i,e. Alignment, staking, pit digging and making box terraces (Planting, Fencing and other works to be included in 2nd year).

Block Afforestation
Expansion of existing Sacred Groves/village Protected Forest

iii. Stream Bank Strip Plantation 10m width on both banks i.e 20ml total width at 1m spacing

iv.Pasture Development 1st year works including planting only for 5 villages having high livestock population.

v. To safeguard the saplings to be planted against browsing by goats, goat rearing families have agreed to replace goats with other activities like piggery, poultry bee keeping, tailoring etc., so as to ensure the rejuvenating of forest.

C) Drainage Line :

1. Water Harvesting Structures (RCC/CC/CC Core wall).
2. Silt Retention/Check Dams (Dry Stone Masonry/Boulder Sausage) in every stream bed and depressions with intensity intervals according to slope.
3. Drinking Wells/Spring Tap Chambers
4. Erosion Control Structures (Protection Walls/Retaining Walls).
5. Rain Water Harvesting for domestic use

D) Livelihood :

i.Kitchen Gardening including Compost Pits, cost of vegetable seeds etc., (for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year).
ii. Infrastructure for Tourism Development:-

Improvement of existing places of tourist interest (view point with solar lighting, foot path, railings, stalls, toilet, facilities, etc., for 1st year only).
Tourist Hub/Centre (Complete with information centre, souvenir shops, parking facility, solar lighting, restaurant/dhaba etc) one each at Laitryngew and Dympep to be run by the Societies under the supervision of the village durbars, (for 1st Year only).
Pavement of tourist trekking paths to sites of interest with indigenous chipped blocks (for 1st Year and 2nd Year).
Providing railing for paths to areas of tourist interest with indigenous overhanging cliff areas (for 1st Year only).

iii.Piggery (for 1st year only).
iv.Apiculture (for 1st year only).
v. Basket making, handicrafts etc. (for 1st year only).Basket making, handicrafts etc. (for 1st year only).
vi. Fisheries i.e, supply of fingerlings for Water Harvesting Units Developed (for 1st, 2nd and 3rd year).
vii. Improvement of Existing Tourism Based Micro-Enterprise (for 1st Year only)
viii. Revolving Fund for SHGs
ix.Promotion of Indigenous Medicinal Practitioners (for 1st Year only)

Awareness Campaign for villagers in clusters of 10 for 45 villages.
Foundation course for selected Barefoot Environment Educators (BEEs)
Orientation and capacity Building/Workshops for Departmental officers, Field Functionaries and members of Project Implementation Committee, etc.
Sustainable Livelihood activities for SHGs/Women Groups/Youth Clubs/Societies/Farmers.
Environment Awareness Programmes for schools including lectures, quiz, essay and one project level competition etc.

Implementation, Monitoring And Evaluation

Monitoring :

Monitoring of the Project well be carried out at various levels:

State Level
Project Level
Village Level

The parameters for monitoring are:

Physical
Financial
Social
Documentation of works through video slides and videography (pre-project, ongoing and post project)

State Level :

•A State Level Project Review Committee has been constituted which will be headed by the Hon’ble Minister i/c Soil and Water Conservation Department MLA Sohra Constituency, Addl. Chief Secretary i/c Soil and Water Conservation Department, Principal Secretary/Commissioner & Secretary Soil & Water Conservation Department, Secretary Soil & Water Conservation Department Meghalaya as members and Director Soil & Water Conservation, Meghalaya as Member Secretary. The committee will review the progress of the Project from time to time and also approve the annual project proposals.

The functions of the committee are:-

To review the progress of the project from time to time and guide the Executive Committee as may be considered necessary.
To approve Project proposals for the subsequent years.

•An Executive Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary has also been constituted, Principal Secretary/Commissioner & Secretary Soil & Water Conservation Department Meghalaya, Secretary Soil & Water Conservation Department Meghalaya, Director Soil & Water Conservation, Meghalaya, Financial Adviser Soil & Water Conservation Department Meghalaya as members and Joint Director of Soil & Water Conservation (Hqr) as Member Secretary. The Committee shall monitor the progress of the project on a regular basis. The functions of the committee are:-

To provide guidance to the Project implementation Committee (PIC)
To ensure regular and quality monitoring of the project
To constitute a panel of independent institutional Evaluators for the project and to ensure that quality evaluation takes place on a regular basis
To approve the list of independent Institutions for providing Capacity Building and Training to various Stakeholders as proposed by the Project implementation Committee (PIC)
To examine all proposals for implementation of the project and make necessary recommendations.
To take measure for ensuring convergence of the project implementation process with related development activities of the departments and stakeholders.

Project Level :

At the Project Level a Project Implementation Committee (PIC) has been constituted, Director Soil & Water Conservation Department Meghalaya as Chairman, Nominee of the Deputy Commissioner East Khasi Hills, Sub-Divisional Officer (C) Sohra, Syiem of Hima Sohra, Sub- Divisional Officer Agriculture Sohra, Sub-Divisional Officer Horticulture Sohra, Sub-Divisional Officer Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sohra, Block Development Officer Shella Bhologanj, Block Development Officer Khatarshnong Laitkroh, Divisional Forest Officer Sohra, Sub-Divisional Officer Public Health Engineering Sohra, Tourist Officer Shillong, Representative from MRDS, Nominee of the Director of Soil & Water Conservation as members and Project Manager as Member Secretary. The PIC shall monitor and ensure the smooth implementation of the project in the field. The functions of the Committee are as follows:-

To supervise the smooth implementation of the various components of the project in the field
To select a list of independent institutions for priority Capacity Building & Training to various Stakeholders.
To arrange various Capacity Building & Training Programmes as well as Awareness Campaign in the Project Area.

Besides the PIC a Sub-Committee on Convergence under the Chairmanship of the SDO (Civil) Sohra has also been constituted so as to facilitate convergence of the Project with the programmes of the Basin Development Authority and Schemes from various Departments for other related activities like livelihood, tourism etc. which cannot be funded by the project. For the convergence of Scheme of the CEP and Schemes from other Departmental Projects as well as schemes of the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, a Convergence Sub-Committee (CSC) was proposed and formed under the Chairmanship of SDO (Civil) and Assistant Project Manager of CEP as Member Secretary. The Project Manager of CEP and Sub-Divisional heads of different department like Agriculture, Horticulture, PHE, Tourism, AH&Vety, Forest, MRDS, C&RD, Syiem of Hima Sohra, Sordar Laitkynsew, Sirdars of Mawmluh, Mawsmai, Saitsohpen, etc as members.

This convergence sub-committee will recommend the schemes to be taken up under convergence concerning the following:-

Tourism related activities
Fishery Development in Water Harvesting Structure constructed under CEP.
Livelihood/Micro Enterprises.
Any others.

The Convergence sub-committee will also prepare concept papers on tourism projects and any other developmental projects to be funded via convergence. The Convergence sub-committee will also propose other terms of reference.

Documentation of works by still slides and videography will also be carried out at regular intervals so as to facilitate the monitoring of the progress of works and achievement under the Project at various stages. The Pre-Project scenario has already been started and documented block wise.

Village Level :

• At the village Level and Village Level Committees has been constituted in all the 45 villages falling under the project. The VLC shall look into the day to day implementation of the works in their respective villages.

• Social Audit in all of the 45 villages shall also be carried out as part of the monitoring of the Project