SHILLONG: Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday informed that the State Government intends to declare certain pockets of West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills as “Khasi Hills Elephant Reserve” with support from the villagers of the concerned areas.
The State currently has one elephant reserve in Garo Hills and is awaiting Centre’s approval to have another in Khasi Hills.
The Forest Minister said that the ‘benefits’ availed by those residing along the elephant reserve area in Garo Hills has prompted the government to work for another reserve in Khasi Hills.
“We want the people of Khasi Hills to receive the same benefits,” the Forest and Environment Minister said.
“Many States in the country which are eager to declare some of their areas as reserve forest never got the green signal from the Centre. We are fortunate that the Centre decided to accept our proposal,” Tynsong said while replying to the question raised by HSPDP legislator Witting Mawsor in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Dismissing the ‘misconception’ among villagers that the government would take over the ownership of the land once it is declared as an elephant reserve Tynsong said, “The ownership of the land would remain with the villagers even after the whole area is considered as an elephant reserve.”
“I want to assure that the Government would not declare the area as elephant reserve unless they have the support of the villagers,” Forest and Environment Minister added.
Informing that a total number of 179 villages would be affected if the concerned areas are declared as part of an elephant reserve, the Forest and Environment Minister said the villagers would not be displaced.
According to him, the officers of the department held a series of meeting with the concerned land owners and traditional heads on this matter. “They are yet to arrive to any settlement on the matter,” Tynsong said.
He also informed that the department is contemplating to hold a public hearing on the matter.
Earlier, HSPDP Mawshynrut legislator Witting Mawsor said that the villagers who are mainly farmers are strongly opposing the plan of the Government.
He also warned that he would back the villagers if the Government attempts to declare the area as elephant reserve by force.