Rombagre Fish Sanctuary, Songkal Wari, Rombagre, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya

It is a fish sanctuary created in the river Simsang under West Garo Hills District. Its area is about 0.1 ha and a depth of about 4.5 m. It is densely populated by Chocolate Mahseer and other species of Mahseer. Initially, it was initiated by IFAD by forming a Natural Resource Management Group (NaRMG) to look after the eco-diversity of Rombagre Village and its surrounding areas in the year 2003-04. The Department of Fisheries, only helps them technically, and later on assisted them financially by way of giving incentives under the scheme “conservation & legislation of fish and fisheries”. The main objective of creating sanctuary is to protect the decreasing population of indigenous species in the river and to create awareness among the community. Now, the Songkal wari commonly call as Rombagre sanctuary has achieved what and how it was projected. It becomes the breeding place and fish has multiplied into hundreds and thousands and also helps in increasing the fish population through the entire stretch of Simsang River. It has become the Tourist Spot and also it has set an example to other communities to follow in different locations and rivers. It is just because of Songkal Wari, many fish sanctuaries has come up in Garo Hills.