Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Villages in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills are fighting back against the scars of coal mining. Community members are now reclaiming degraded soil through the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project. This effort covers 84.77 hectares across Dobakol Awemong and Agrenggitim, located within the Siju Community and Rural Development Block.
The work is moving fast. Teams have used Assisted Natural Regeneration on 70.83 hectares, planting 400 saplings per hectare to jumpstart forest growth. They dedicated another 13.94 hectares to aromatic grasses like lemongrass and citronella. The citronella operation kicked off in 2023 with roughly seven lakh slips.
Women lead the charge here. They handle the daily maintenance of the crops and drive the local restoration efforts. Workers began the shift toward trees in 2025 to solidify the soil and trap water. Officials report that local water bodies are already cleaner, showing a clear reduction in siltation.
Value is the priority. The project built a distillation unit to turn grasses into essential oils, providing a new way for residents to make money beyond the mines. Villagers learned to run the facility themselves. During a site visit for journalists, officials confirmed that market linkages are now set up to move the final products. The initiative aims to shift the region away from mining dependency, as "the restoration work is also aimed at improving soil quality and conserving water."
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