Shillong, Sep 21: National People’s Party (NPP) leaders of the Mylliem Block on Tuesday presented a memorandum to Forest and Environment Minister, James Sangma citing concerns of the people of Mylliem regarding the diversion of forest land to the Air Force.
At the meeting with the NPP members, Sangma said that as a government, it treat such concerns with utmost importance and have been very clear in their understanding that all such protected forests, which fall under the forest department, are critical catchment areas.
The Minister said that in terms of land and forest conservation, they are of the greatest environmental importance.
“I would therefore like to assure the people of Mylliem and the Upper Shillong area that the government has no intention of diverting any protected forests to the Air Force,†Sangma said.
“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,†he added.
Sangma said that as a government it remains committed to the goals of holding environmental protection and conservation as one of their topmost priorities.
