Development that comes from destruction of the environment is a development that crawls.
This was the observation of Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh during the inauguration of a cluster development fund project at Lum Symper today.
Speaking at the gathering Lyngdoh appreciated the Raid Saw Symper for the initiatives of preserving the environment. “This day should remind us that if we talk about development we should see the development that is sustained, the development that comes through destroying the environment, is not development but it’s a development that crawls,” he remarked.
“We are happy that the forest cover in the state of Meghalaya is about 76 per cent, but one thing as indigenous tribe we must understand that the first relationship for us is with the environment and we take our environment as our Mother,’ he added.
Pointing out that there is no short cut for development, Lyngdoh said there can be development without the cooperation of the society.
He cited how Sohra which was earlier dependent on farming shifted to mining. “At the end the Assembly Committee had to suggest the inoperative Meghalaya Cement Corporation Limited (MCCL) to be converted into a museum. So this shows that such development doesn’t last long but increases the economic divide between the rich and the poor and landlessness. The only answer for this is tourism,” Lyngdoh said.
The minister assured the Raid Saw Symper of assistance to strengthen and preserve the place.
Others present were Mawsynram MLA Ollan S Suin, KHADC Deputy CEM Pynshai N Syiem, MDC Alvin K Sawkmie, officials from the MBMA, CLLMP and others.
