Shillong, Jan 29: The Government of India has approved a comprehensive financial package of ₹3027.86 crore to bolster disaster mitigation efforts across various states, including vital projects for Meghalaya aimed at reducing risks from lightning and forest fires. The announcement was made following the decision of a High-Level Committee (HLC) led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
As part of the Mitigation Project on Lightning Safety, Meghalaya will receive funding from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) to tackle the risks posed by severe lightning events.
Additionally, Meghalaya has been included among the 19 states eligible for the Mitigation Scheme for Forest Fire Risk Management. The scheme, which will cover 144 high-priority districts nationwide, seeks to transform the forest fire management approach. With its vast stretches of forested landscapes, including biodiversity hotspots, the state has witnessed growing challenges in managing wildfires that threaten both ecological balance and rural livelihoods.
Under this scheme, Meghalaya will receive catalytic assistance to implement key activities such as forest fire prevention measures, capacity-building for firefighting, preparedness for fire response, and post-fire recovery assessments. These efforts are seen as a significant boost for Meghalaya’s environmental and community resilience.
The HLC decision aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of creating a disaster-resilient India by prioritizing prevention and mitigation strategies to protect life, property, and the environment.
A study done by the state’s forest and environment department found that around 49% of Meghalaya’s forest cover is highly prone to forest fires.
The study, which examined fire incidents from 2003 to 2023, revealed that the Ri Bhoi (16,670 incidents) and West Khasi Hills (12,445 incidents) districts experienced the highest number of forest fires. In contrast, the South West Garo Hills district recorded the fewest incidents (482).
Among the various blocks, Rongjeng Block in the East Garo Hills district has 74.3% of its forest cover classified as very high fire-prone.
Human activities have been identified as a significant influence on the natural evolution process and the variation in forest fire trends.
A single-window dashboard platform named the “Meghalaya Forest Fire Information System” has been developed to facilitate better management and monitoring. This platform provides interactive visualization and analysis of forest fires across districts, blocks, government-owned forests, protected areas, biosphere reserves, eco-sensitive zones, and sacred groves. It also includes data on areas under shifting cultivation (2005-2021), burnt areas (2015-2021), villages, roads, settlements, and satellite base layers.
