 Jorhat,
Aug 23: Cherrapunjee is desperately seeking help to maintain
its record of being the place with the highest amount of rainfall
in the world.
The Rain Forest Research Institute in Jorhat is launching a preliminary
project of afforestation since the place is witnessing a decline
in annual rainfall gradually. The state government has commissioned
the project.
The loss of greenery and shifting weather patterns is blamed for
the declining rainfall. It’s ironical however that the loss
of green cover is also due to the lack of rain – locally known
as sohra.
Meteorological experts say that the deluge in Mumbai recently was
caused by shifting weather patterns. They attribute the unusual
pattern of rainfall to the monsoon trough moving southwards from
it normal position over the Cherrapunjee-Assam-Bihar belt. The shift
has also caused more rainfall in the Orissa-Maharastra belt.
Cherrapunjee recorded 2,373 mm of rainfall in July this year against
a monthly average of 3,500 mm, which is less than half or last year’s
record of 5,014 mm.
Despite perennial rain, the people in these parts have to face acute
shortage of portable water. They trek miles to obtain drinking water.
As fallout of human encroachment irrigation is also hampered by
excessive rain washing away the topsoil.
Two varieties of trees namely - the Exbucklandia Poplania
and Alnus Nepalensis - will be planted on 1.5 hectares of
land on experimental basis.
The aim is to encourage the local populace to start planting the
two varieties of trees to restore the greenery of Cherrapunjee. |
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