States » EastPosted at: Nov 11 2026 10:39PM


Women-led green drive revives Coal-degraded land in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills

Baghmara, Nov 11 (UNI) Coal mining-affected villages in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills are witnessing a gradual green transformation through community-led initiatives aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and generating alternative livelihoods.
The land restoration projects undertaken by the Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project (MegLIFE) in Dobakol Awemong and Agrenggitim villages under the Siju C&RD Block have reclaimed 84.77 hectares of mining-ravaged land.
Under the project, the villagers are growing a citronella plantation at Nangalbibra, which forms part of the district's broader push toward sustainable livelihoods.
Of the total 84.77 hectares restored, officials said 70.83 hectares have been brought under Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), involving the plantation of 400 saplings per hectare to revive native vegetation.
The remaining 13.94 hectares have been dedicated to cultivating aromatic grasses—primarily citronella and lemongrass—blending environmental recovery with steady income generation for residents, the official said.
A standout intervention is the citronella plantation in Agrenggitim village, launched in 2023 with the planting of roughly seven lakh citronella slips across 13.94 hectares.
Spearheaded with the active participation of village women, the project follows a phased ecological strategy: aromatic grasses were first introduced to stabilise and rehabilitate the depleted soil, followed by tree plantations from 2025 onwards to ensure long-term forest recovery.
To maximise economic returns, a distillation unit has been set up locally to extract essential oils from the harvested grass.
Villagers have been trained to operate and manage the facility independently, while established market linkages are helping them sell the processed oils.
Beyond boosting household incomes, the aromatic plantations have yielded visible ecological benefits, including improved soil health, better water conservation, reduced siltation, and the revival of local water bodies.
Together, the efforts in Dobakol Awemong, Agrenggitim and Nangalbibra underscore how grassroots participation—particularly by women—is turning scarred mining zones into thriving, productive ecosystems. UNI RRK NST
Tags: #Women-led green drive revives Coal-degraded land in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills
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