Shillong, Dec 16: Shillong MP Ricky AJ Syngkon, has urged the central government to protect the Experimental Botanical Garden, Umiam (BSI) from acquisition for Greenfield NH-6 alignment.
In a letter, to the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, the Shillong Lok Sabha MP, urged for the Ministry’s intervention, regarding the proposed acquisition of land belonging to the Experimental Botanical Garden at Umiam, under the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong, for the Greenfield High-Speed Corridor – NH-6.
Syngkon stated that he has received detailed representation from the Scientist In-charge, BSI and from concerned citizens on the matter.
According to him, the Experimental Botanical Garden at Umiam is located about two kilometres from his residence and he had personally visited it many times over the years.
“These visits have deepened my appreciation of its extraordinary biodiversity and the range of plant groups and life-forms conserved there,” Syngkon stated.
In the letter, Yadav, the MP stated that the Experimental Botanical Garden was developed over more than five decades ago by BSI scientists, with collections drawn from across the country-particularly the North Eastern states and the garden is widely recognised as one of India’s best-maintained and richest plant conservatories.
He stated that it houses over 1,200 species, including a significant number of endemic, endangered and threatened taxa from the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot.
Syngkon pointed out to the Ministry that, what was once a grassland dominated by invasive species has, through sustained scientific effort, been transformed into a unique “gene sanctuary” of flora and associated fauna.
“Many of the species maintained here are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. The garden also supports diverse faunal groups-birds, reptiles, insects and small mammals-some of which fall under various Schedules of the Wildlife (Protection) Act,” the MP stated.
He also said that the Experimental Botanical Garden serves as a living classroom for students and a valuable field laboratory for researchers from India and abroad.
Syngkon stated that the garden has played an important role in India’s biodiversity conservation efforts through conservation, propagation, distribution and field plantation of native species.
“By way of illustration, BSI provided over 2,000 seedlings and scientific guidance for a community-based ecological restoration initiative in Ri-Bhoi District that I have been associated with as an example of its strategic relevance to on-ground restoration and national biodiversity commitments,” the MP stated in the letter to Yadav.
The MP expressing concern pointed out that this nationally significant ex-situ conservation site, managed by a premier scientific institution, is facing potential land alienation for a linear infrastructure project.
Syngkon said that while the importance of connectivity and economic development is fully acknowledged, the irreversible loss or fragmentation of such a unique, fifty-year-old conservation asset would be vastly disproportionate to the marginal benefit of routing a portion of the highway through this area.
He said that in the long term, the ecological, scientific and educational costs far outweigh any short-term gains from the present alignment.
The Shillong MP, requested the Ministry to examine the proposed acquisition in close consultation with BSI, the National Biodiversity Authority and other expert bodies, with a view to according the highest possible protection to this site.
He also urged Yadav to advise the Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways and its project implementing agency NHIDCL to adopt an alternative alignment for the Greenfield NH-6 corridor that completely bypasses the garden, ensuring its integrity as a gene sanctuary and a research-education hub.
He also urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to consider appropriate recognition or notification of the garden as a critical biodiversity conservation area of national importance, so that all future development proposals in its vicinity undergo rigorous environmental and biodiversity-impact scrutiny.
According to Syngkon, the Experimental Botanical Garden at Umiam is a matter of pride not only for Meghalaya but for the entire country.
“Safeguarding it would send a strong signal that India’s development pathway values irreplaceable biodiversity assets and long-term ecological security. I shall be grateful if this matter is examined on priority and necessary directions are issued to the concerned agencies,” the Shillong Lok Sabha MP said.
