Cherrapunji, one of the remote plateau at Bangladesh Boarder, we all are familiar with, was known for highest rainfall zone. How do you feel when I inform you that there is even no water to drink in Cherrapunji for 4 months in a year, and people of Cherrapunji are forced to move down the hill ONLY FOR WATER. Cherrapunji has turned into a Rain Desert.
Being at the highest plateau of Meghalaya (the cloud heaven) at Bangladesh-India boarder, Cherrapunji is a true nature's treasure with lush green landscape full of beautiful water falls. The shocking reality is that Cherrapunji has turned to be a rain dessert. Yes, this is what climate change can do to the nature. This is a big alarming point. When couple of trees are cut in Arey colony whole of Mumbai started to protest and whole media started to shout. But, when millions of trees were butchered in Meghalaya, and even in almost all the forests in India, 'the concerned citizen' were enjoying a movie while sitting in the chair made from, may be, the same wood on a TV screen which was kept on the beautiful furniture made by, may be, the same wood.
Deforestation is certainly a concern, but the hypocrisy over environmental concern is the bigger concern. This is the first reason for the devastation of ecology and life in Cherrapunji Economy of Meghalaya works on Tourism and Mining. These two are the next two big reasons of eco-devastation of Cherrapunji. To feed the tourists plastic wrapped fastest-food is the major commodity in the market, Tourists are throwing plastics everywhere, and uncontrolled, unplanned construction is going on in every plausible touristic point. This is the 4th reason.The emptying space, Due to thinning of the forest, is been taken over by the 4-6 feet height grass, which dries down after chilling winter. Forest fires burns the baby plants, and hence the scope of natural growth of trees in forest is also sabotaged.
A nature centric and sustainable human intervention is necessary to restore the ecology at Cherrapunji. Water Bank Foundation has started making a network of local farmers to engage them into various activities of Eco-Restoration in Cherrapunji. We have successfully grown saffron on their land. Now they are ready to listen to us, and get more actively engaged in our #MissionCherrapunji2050 #BarterWater