By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a positive move towards protection of the catchment areas, the State Government is planning to incorporate the provision for acquiring all the land which falls under the various catchment areas across the State in the proposed amendment of the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Areas Act, 1990.
“The Government at present is not able to protect these catchment areas as desired since the land along the catchment areas are privately owned. The only way we can protect the catchment areas is for the Government to acquire all these lands under the catchment areas,” Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters recently.
He said that everyone is aware there is a serious threat to drinking water resources due the various human activities including rampant felling of trees, quarrying and mining along the catchment areas.
“The Government cannot put a blanket ban on these activities which are going on along the catchment areas since the real ownership of the land is with private parties,” Tynsong said while also expressing concern over the way the catchment area along Lum Shyllong (Shillong Peak) and also those around the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) are rapidly deteriorating.
“These two catchment areas are very important since they are the only sources of drinking water for the whole of Shillong,” Tynsong said.
Replying to a query, he said that the Government would take the land owners into confidence before acquiring the land along the catchment.
“We have to make them understand that it is important for the Government to acquire the land since they are sources of drinking of water which is critical for human survival,’ Forest and Environment Minister said.
As of now, the State Government has an overall control only of the catchment areas which are under Reserved and Protected Forest, he said.
Tynsong rued that a large part of the catchment are owned by private parties over which the Government has no control.
“In one of the clauses of the existing Act, the Government can have a control of these catchment areas subject to the agreement of the private land owners. We are intending to remove this particular clause from this Act,” Tynsong said.
With the deletion of this clause, the Government would have greater say on the catchments areas which are under private holding he said.
Tynsong also said that the Government is intending to insert a new clause in the Act to delegate more powers to the concerned officers of the Forest and Environment department for protection of the catchment areas which are privately owned.
“The concerned officer would also be delegated with the powers to prosecute any person or group indulging in any activities which are environmentally destructive,” the Forest and Environment Minister said.
According to Tynsong, there is no justification for private land owners to destroy the catchment areas only to serve their own individual interests.
“No one has the right to destroy the catchment areas which are the source of drinking water for the people of the State,” he said.
When asked about the status of the proposed amendment of the Act, he said that the matter is under examination of both the Planning and Finance department.
Tynsong however informed that the Law department has already given its opinion on the proposed amendment.
“I am hopeful that I will be able to table the proposed amendment of the Act before the Cabinet at the earliest,” Tynsong added.