By Dr Vikas Nimesh & Bibhudutta Sahu
There is a mesmerizing location in Garo Hills that has become the rage of local tourists with the inflow of pick-up trucks and private vehicles cruising up the winding roads to reach this destination. The view is breathtaking, as one would expect from an area that offers evergreen cover, undulating hills for miles and miles with the occasional sighting or sounds of the elephants and hillock gibbons. The location that has witnessed a surge of tourists in the past few months is none other than The Nokrek National Park, located in Garo Hills, Meghalaya and for good reason too. With better road connectivity leading up to the park comes the increase in tourist footfalls and the park is a part of the larger Nokrek National Biosphere that connects three districts of West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills. Situated at a height of 1412 meters above sea level, it has become the destination for social media influencers, reel creators, selfie shots and a day-long getaway for the localities. It would not be out of place to watch a Sunday-suited man breaking out into a dance routine with his camera propped up on a tripod on the ground while inviting the younger members to join in the moment of unbridled joy.
Driving up from Sasatgre to Daribokgre, you will notice the newly paved road that has been the single most incentive for the tourists to head on up to the peak. The support of the local government in paving the way-pun intended- for the creation of a tourist hotspot has been beneficial for the local communities. Phase 1 of the project has been to build the local infrastructure with the basic amenities for the inflow of sightseeing folk. Phase 2 is underway with the proposed completion of the guesthouses, tents, restaurant and the traditional Garo abode (nokachik) among the hills. An average weekend inflow of 200 vehicles has been recorded since the turn of the year which coincided with the paving of the road. That would average to around 2000 tourists per weekend. Not huge numbers but with the completion of Phase 2 and the social media explosion, the park is expected to see a considerable rise over the next few years. Add into the mix the tantalizing prospect of treks, camping, near encounters with the wildlife, including elephants, the potential of eco-tourism is something that can propel the economic condition of the surrounding communities with the increase of homestays, roads side eateries, guides, entry fees, water management and environmentally friendly vehicular movement.
Currently the pick-up trucks are the most preferred mode of transport with the carbon emissions going through the roof. The pristine air and the clear blue skies are the gifts of nature that will be affected with the rapid increase of these vehicles into the eco-system. The gradient of the slopes to Daribokgre require sturdy vehicles that provide cleaner alternatives. It is to be noted that the majority (90%) of the tourist are from the region. We have not even started to factor the visitors and travelers from other states begin to ride in as the popularity of the park grows and the amenities are in place. With the influx of tourists, it is only natural that there will be additional requirements in the form of basic requirements such as water, electricity, food etc. This will place additional stress on the current resources as demand will outstrip supply if not managed judiciously with the gift of anticipating the upward trend of inflow in a sustainable manner from now.
It is a fine balancing act of ensuring livelihoods for the local communities and maintaining the environmental balance as the biosphere continues to play an integral role in the fight against climate change. It would be fool-hardy to expect visitors to walk up to the Nokrek Park but a planned intervention in the form of a symbiotic relationship between local communities, transport, tourism and the power sector could go a long way in creating models of eco-tourism. This could prove to a win-win situation for all stakeholders, barring the zanies, who believe it is their birthright to desecrate the park with consumption of alcohol and litter the area with plastic.
A cavalcade of interventions supported by the local government could include the following in a step-by-step manner:
- Creating a parking bay for all vehicles in Chandigre, at the base of the region, where a location has been identified and could serve as the first filter
- Conducting a feasibility study for the introduction of E-Vehicles as the means of public transport within the Nokrek Park beginning at Chandigre.
- Clearly defined rules and regulations for tourists entering the park in four languages (English, Garo, Khasi and Hindi)
- Adopting a No-Plastic zone from Chandigre to Nokrek Peak
- Provision of E-Vehicles from Chandigre to Nokrek Peak for all visitors with various forms of vehicles
- These vehicles will be manned by the local communities as a means of livelihood enhancement after quality training provided by established agencies in the sector of e-mobility.
- Tourists can walk inside the park or avail the e-carts for persons with limited mobility such as senior citizens, persons with disability and others.
- Training and monitoring on the efficacy of the e-vehicles is going to be a critical component in the
- Entry fees will be paid at the Daribokgre gate for all vehicles entering the park thereby ensuring continues revenue for the local community.
- We could also widen the ambit of the corridor to begin the taxiing of tourists from Williamnagar and Tura respectively.
- Strategy for waste management and the potential of revenue generation through recycling and upcycling of waste materials.
- Introduction of financial literacy for the local communities
With climate change being the common enemy, and biospheres such as Nokrek being the last wall of resistance against a calamitous downslide, it is time to collaborate and bring about cleaner forms of tourism into the region without a second thought.
This was a very productive visit of the team with the incredible support of the Deputy Commissioners of both West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills that led to fascinating discussions with the officials from the transport and tourism departments of the districts. This has laid the foundation for proactive collaborations in the future. Barefoot Trust along with Alliance for Energy Efficient Economies (AEEE), a leading agency in promoting cleaner energy practices, welcomes collaborations that would place Garo Hills on the map of clean corridors for long-term sustainability in the state of Meghalaya. This is a golden opportunity for Tourism, Transport and Renewable Energy departments to work together along with the local communities to retain it’s pivotal role as the carbon sink of the North East.