Meghalaya IBSD trains farmers about medicinal plants

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 5: Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Meghalaya organised a training programme for the farmers at Upper Shillong for cultivation of medicinal plants including Swertia chirayita (Chirayita) and Gaultheria fragrantissima (Jathynrat).

This training was organised by IBSD under the Himalayan Bioresources Mission and the guidance of Prof. Pulok K. Mukherjee, Director IBSD to promote medicinal plants resources of the region for societal benefit and livelihood generation.

During the programme, farmers from Mawbeh village, East Khasi Hills District were trained for cultivation and propagation of Chirayita, Jathynrat and explored various field trials of medicinal plants growing within IBSD campus. During the event, aromatic oil extraction was performed from Jathynrat and demonstrated to farmers.

IBSD is organising such programmes in North Eastern Region to promote bioentrepreneurship and bioeconomy from bioresources. The programme was also attended by students, scholars and scientists of IBSD.

Issuing taxi permits kept in abeyance

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 22: Taxi permits in Shillong is for the time being kept in abeyance for better regulation, deputy chief minister-in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar informed the Assembly today.

In reply to a query raised by VPP North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, Dhar also informed that the reason that the unused STPS buses are lying on the godown at various places in Shillong is that vehicles are no longer fit for use.

Whether the government will adopt a policy in order to restrict any tourist taxi from outside the state to enter Shillong city to avoid traffic congestion, the minister however said no restriction will be adopted since tourist permits can ply all over India. Moreover, Shillong is a transit route to other states.

Tourist taxis cannot be restricted under Para 4 of the Terms and Conditions of All India Tourist Vehicle Permit, he added.