The Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) has alleged that the Law Syiem at Lum Mawpat, which was declared protected as ‘Law Adong’ (prohibited forest), has been violated as construction activities carried out inside it.
According to VPP President Ardent M Basaiawmoit, the forest was declared protected and an agreement signed on May 22, 2014 between the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council and the Syiem of Mylliem. He said the installed plaque to mark the agreement was also removed.
He alleged that some MLAs have also availed plots of land inside the protected forest.
Basaiawmoit said the aim to declare the Law Syiem as a protected forest is to safeguard the environment, which will benefit Shillong and the nearby localities like Mawpat, Langkyrding and other areas.
“We saw various activities going on in this protected forest,” he told reporters after an inspection today. He said the Law Syiem is a forest which belongs to the community and inherited by the present generation from their ancestors who had preserved the area.
During the inspection it was also found that a road is being carved inside the protected forest.
Basaiawmoit also said that in the endeavour to develop the state one should not forget to preserve the environment. “There is no use to develop the state and make the citizens economically strong if one day we don’t get clean air to breathe or water to drink,” he added.
Basaiawmoit also said that the VPP will seek information from the district council whether it is aware that such activities are taking place inside the forest.
