Forest and Environment Minister James PK Sangma has said that he is concerned about the negative impact that palm oil cultivation in Meghalaya will have on the state’s ecology.
“It will affect the delicate ecosystem that we have in our state. It is a mono crop and any kind of mono crop is very detrimental and harmful to the biodiversity of our region, to the ecological balance which is extremely delicate at this point of time,” Sangma said.
North East states, including Meghalaya and the Andamans are on the Centre’s radar for the ambitious project involving more than Rs 11,000 crore for self-reliance in edible oils, which includes the growing of oil palm.
Sangma said that he has conveyed his concern about the introduction of palm oil cultivation in Meghalaya to the higher authorities.
“I will make sure that the concerns of many like-minded citizens who are very concerned about the ecological negative impact of palm oil cultivation will have on our State,” the minister, who has been burnishing his green credentials of late, said.
Sangma also said that many of the leaders of the NPP have also expressed their concerns about palm oil cultivation. His sister and Tura MP, Agatha Sangma, has already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.
