Tourists need not travel as far as Japan to witness the cherry blossoms as the Meghalaya government is embarking on a mission to plant over 5,000 pink and white cherry trees in and around the city to woo tourists.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today planted the first of the new set of trees at the picturesque Wards Lake here and at the State Convention hall to mark the beginning of a green initiative to beautify the capital.
Cherry blossoms are not new to this hill city, yet they are planted in a haphazard manner. Under this mission, these trees will be planted to add aesthetics to the area, Mukul said at the programme.
Funded by the Imphal-based Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), the Forest department and the state's Basin Development Authority along with the district administration is working together to ensure that the mission is successful.
IBSD director Prof Dinabandhu Sahoo said these cherry are fast growing varieties and they are expected to blossom between three to five years period.
Under such circumstances, when these trees begin to flower, the city will be painted pink and white and that will be auspicious to have a cherry blossom festival akin to the Sakura Festival of Japan which attracts a lot of tourists, Prof Sahoo said.
Ruing that Meghalaya had for so long failed to take advantage of the beauty of these tree varieties, the IBSD chief said countries like USA, Holland, Australia have adapted the concept and created Cherry Avenues in their respective country.
He further said that Meghalaya can integrate its music and food culture along with cherry blossom viewing every November similar to the Hanami festival in Japan.
