Shillong: A large-scale plantation drive in New Shillong marked the launch of two major initiatives aimed at transforming Meghalaya’s urban landscape: Clean Shillong 2027 and Building a Climate Resilient Green Economy. The event, led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, saw over 1,500 participants from various sectors plant more than 1,000 ornamental trees, including cherry blossoms, jacarandas, and gulmohars.
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of integrating biodegradable materials into everyday practices and drew inspiration from Japan’s cherry blossom culture to enhance New Shillong’s ecological and aesthetic value. He also underscored the impact of the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme, which has helped conserve over 50,000 hectares of forest land, with plans to double that figure under the upcoming GREEN Plus programme.
The Clean Shillong 2027 mission aims to turn the capital into a clean, litter-free city through public participation, smart waste management, and upgraded infrastructure, in preparation for the National Games 2027. The Climate Resilient Green Economy plan prioritises long-term resilience by embedding sustainability into the state’s economic development strategy.
Awards were given to 14 schools and 10 localities for their outstanding contributions to cleanliness, innovation, and environmental awareness. Additionally, 14 villages and seven individual PES beneficiaries were recognised for their work in forest and ecosystem protection.
The event also saw proposals for installing water ATMs in public spaces to ensure access to clean drinking water and plans to plant 10,000 more trees across New Shillong, reinforcing the government’s vision of a greener, more liveable urban environment.
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