Shillong, Sept 17: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday informed that the state government has not taken any decision to introduce oil palm cultivation in Meghalaya.
He was supplementing to the reply of the Minister incharge Forest & Environment James K Sangma on the issue in the Assembly on Friday.
The Chief Minister said that the state government needs to examine as the issue is very delicate.
On the recently held meeting chaired by the Union Minister for DoNER in the presence of the Union Agriculture Minister, Conrad said all the Chief Ministers were informed about the government of India’s intention to support farming and plantation of oil palm sector.
He said states like Arunachal Pradesh indicated they have lakhs and lakhs of waste lands for the purpose.
However, Meghalaya and other states stated they would need to examine the matter, he added.
The Chief Minister said the government is very much concerned about the forest cover and is working towards increasing the forest cover to about 400-500 sq kms in the state.
He also assured that the government will take the livelihood aspects and the environment aspects into consideration before taking a decision on the oil palm project.
Opposition says ‘no’ to oil Palm plantation
The opposition members have demanded the state government to say ‘no’ to the project as it may affect the forest and environment of the state.
Former Assembly Speaker Charles Pynrope also referred to the Singapore incident arising from such cultivation. “(I urge the government) if possible not to allow the oil palm cultivation as the entire world has rejected it… yes there is lots of money involved but can it be at the cost of our life?” he said.
Responding to this, James K Sangma assured the House that the government will not do anything that is going to affect the environment.
He also informed that no due diligence has been conducted by the department so far on the matter. The state government is also awaiting decisions and guidelines to be issued by the Central government, the minister added.
