Nangalbibra, Nov 12:Coal mining-affected villages in South Garo Hills are witnessing a gradual transformation through community-led initiatives aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and creating alternative livelihood opportunities. These efforts were highlighted during a press tour to the district organised by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) for journalists from Shillong.
During the visit, the team witnessed restoration initiatives undertaken by the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (MegLIFE) in Dobakol Awemong and Agrenggitim villages under Siju C&RD Block, where a total of 84.77 hectares of coal mining-affected degraded land have been restored. The team also visited the citronella plantation at Nangalbibra, which forms part of the broader efforts to promote land restoration and sustainable livelihood opportunities in the district.
Of the total area restored, 70.83 hectares have been covered under Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), involving the planting of 400 saplings per hectare to encourage vegetation growth and restore the degraded landscape. Another 13.94 hectares have been brought under aromatic grass cultivation, particularly citronella and lemongrass, combining ecological restoration with livelihood opportunities for local communities.
One of the key interventions is the citronella plantation in Agrenggitim village, which was initiated in 2023 with the planting of approximately seven lakh citronella slips across 13.94 hectares. The plantation has been undertaken with active participation from the local women of the village.
The initiative follows a phased restoration approach, wherein aromatic grass cultivation was initially introduced to rehabilitate the degraded soil, followed by tree plantation from 2025 onwards to facilitate the gradual recovery of the landscape.
To strengthen the economic potential of the initiative, a distillation unit has also been established to process aromatic grasses into essential oils. Local villagers have been trained to operate and manage the unit independently, while market linkages have been facilitated to support the sale of the processed products.
Apart from creating alternative livelihood opportunities, the citronella plantation is also contributing to soil restoration and water conservation. Improvements in local water bodies and reduced siltation have been observed as part of the ongoing restoration efforts.
The initiatives in Dobakol Awemong, Agrenggitim and Nangalbibra demonstrate how community participation, particularly the involvement of women, is helping transform coal mining-affected landscapes into productive resources while promoting environmental recovery and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
