Narwan village gets Miyawaki Afforestation Project to restore mining-affected land

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 5, 2025

A Miyawaki Afforestation Project covering 2 hectares and funded at Rs 16.50 lakh under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) was inaugurated at Narwan (Kmai Prut) Village in East Jaintia Hills. The initiative aims to restore land degraded by mining and create dense, fast-growing forests.

The programme was graced by Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla, along with Deputy Commissioner Shivansh Awasthi, SDO (Sadar) Manish Kumar, BDO Dr R. Pyrtuh, officials of the Soil and Water Conservation Department, and community leaders.

In her address, MLA Santa Mary Shylla expressed gratitude to the Soil and Water Conservation Department and the residents of Narwan for their active support of the initiative. She acknowledged the role of mining in providing livelihood opportunities but also emphasised its environmental costs. Stressing the need to balance development with conservation, she urged villagers to take ownership of the plantation to ensure its survival and serve as a model for other communities.

Deputy Commissioner Shivansh Awasthi described the project as a vital investment in environmental restoration. While noting that DMF resources are limited and spread across multiple developmental works, he underlined the importance of replicating such projects through the Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund (MEPRF). He also urged collective responsibility from both the department and the community to ensure that the plantation survives and matures into a dense forest within three to four years.

SDO (Sadar) Manish Kumar highlighted the ecological and economic potential of the Miyawaki method, calling it a “game changer” for the district. He said the project would benefit future generations by improving environmental health and offering livelihood opportunities.

The programme concluded with a plantation drive led by the MLA, officials, and community members, reaffirming their commitment to environmental sustainability.