Forests Minister James Sangma was petitioned by his National People’s Party colleagues of Mylliem block citing concerns regarding the diversion of forest land to the Air Force.
“As a government, we treat such concerns with utmost importance and have been very clear in our understanding that all such protected forests, which fall under the forest department, are critical catchment areas. Therefore, in terms of land and forest conservation, they are of the greatest environmental importance,” Sangma was quoted as saying in a press release today.
He assured the people of Mylliem and Upper Shillong that the government has no intention of diverting protected forest land to the Air Force.
“We value the environment, placing paramount importance on the need to conserve it in every way possible, especially at a time when issues like climate change are likely to become critical threats to us,” the minister said.
