The controversial proposal to begin oil palm cultivation in Meghalaya will only go through if the environment and the interests of the public are safeguarded, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said today.
“Whatever steps we take will be done only when we are convinced that the environment and the interest of the local people are safeguarded and ensure that all these aspects are taken into consideration,” Conrad said.
In August the central government had approved a national mission to expand palm oil production, with the North East, including Meghalaya, one of the focus areas.
This was criticised by the opposition and even by Tura MP Agatha Sangma, who is the sister of Conrad.
Environmentalists termed the government’s announcement as not just an ecological disaster for the fragile biodiversity in those areas but also a social disorder.
While oil palm plantations are not new for the North East, the environmentalists are concerned as there has been no assessment on the environmental impact due to the proposal for increased plantation area.
Conrad today described the project as “good overall” and said that livelihoods will be created out of it. “But, obviously, we are very clear that, as a state, we need to balance things,” he added.
While the government does not want to see forests chopped down to make way for oil palm plantations, as has been seen around the world as demand for palm oil grows exponentially, barren, non-forest areas could be utilised for plantations and this would be a “win-win situation” and a “great thing”, the CM said.
