Shillong, Apr 13: Former MLA Jemino Mawthoh has expressed concern over environmental degradation, emphasising the need for cost-benefit analyses for development projects.
“When you talk about development, you also have to do the cost-benefit analysis. When the destruction affects ecosystems, then definitely that project has to be shelved,” he said.
Mawthoh praised the efforts of Green-Tech Foundation in trying to protect Lumpongdeng Island from a luxury tourism resort project.
Mawthoh stressed that environmental impact assessments should consider ecosystems, flora, fauna, biodiversity and more. “When young people raise concerns based on collected information, the government should take cognisance. If the ecosystem and aquatic species will be affected, then executing such projects will destroy the biodiversity of the area,” he warned.
The former MLA and academic highlighted the importance of preserving the environment, citing global warming and climate change. “Development sometimes comes at a cost, but we have to see the impact. Destruction of natural habitats is serious. We have seen projects that looked good initially but turned problematic later due to lack of regulatory measures,” he said.
