Sohra popularly known as Cherrapunjee was created as a Sub-Division under East Khasi Hills District in the year 1982 with the aim of bringing the administration closer to the people. Over the years, the Subdivision has witnessed change in many spheres including growth and development of various sectors like education, health and other infrastructures. Coupled with the growth and development, the local environment has also witnessed changes which sadly have had a tremendous impact on the flora and fauna of the sub-division.
Sohra or Cherrapunjee is in the world map for receiving the heaviest rainfall in the world, though, in the last few years the amount of rainfall is gradually declining. The forest fires which are rampant during the dry winter months have dealt a blow to the efforts to restore and regenerate vegetation over the hills and the valleys. The lack of vegetation ultimately leads to the loss of the top soil during the monsoons and as a consequence of which various attempts towards the restoration of vegetation on the otherwise barren hills have not yielded the desired results
As the favourite tourist destination of the state, Sohra witnesses an inflow of both domestic and foreign tourists on a regular basis throughout the year. However, it is unfortunate that apart from the natural beauty of the place, the tourists also come across tourist spots which include streams strewn with litter and other kinds of trash which regrettably acts as an eyesore. Lamentably, it also reflects the lack of civic sense among the residents of the area, which invariably leaves an undesired impact on the tourists.
The lacunae mentioned above cannot be dealt in its entirety by the government officers alone and therefore it calls for the pro-active participation of citizens in different capacities. Keeping in mind, the goal of having environmental conscious citizens who would play a pro-active role in protection and promotion of the environment, the Officers of the Sub-Divisional Office (Civil) in collaboration with the representatives from the leading schools of the Sub-Division intends to start an Eco Club. The Eco Club which will comprise students, teachers, heads of institutions and government departments will have regular deliberations to chalk out strategies to protect the local environment. The strategies adopted will then be carried out by all the stakeholders in right earnest.
As part of the Eco Club campaign, it is proposed that each school will adopt a tourist spot and make concerted efforts to clean the area on a regular basis and to sensitize visitors to maintain cleanliness. Hand-outs may be printed and distributed among the visitors and tourists particularly during weekends. Further, students will also carry out tree plantation programmes in collaboration with Departments of Forest and Soil Conservation in their respective adopted tourist spots.
The following schools will adopt the following tourist spots:-
-
Wah Kaba Viewpoint - Maurice Patrick King School.
- Nohkalikai Falls - Ram Krishna Higher Secondary School/Indira (RC) School.
- Dainthlen Falls - St. John’s Boys and Girls H.S. School.
- Eco Park, Mawsmai - Cherra Presbyterian School/Green Field School.
- Mawsmai Cave - St. Louis Secondary School.
- Thangkarang - Larsing Khongwir Memorial School.
- Khoh Ramhah - Sohra Academy/Agape School.
- Kynrem Falls - St. Ursula School and Mawlong Presbyterian School.
- Mawkdok View Point - St. Peter’s Higher Sec. School, Laitkroh & Tirot Sing Memorial School, Mawkdok.
