‘Rubber plantation an economically viable alternative’
SHILLONG: The Congress-led Opposition in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council has asked the Council to discontinue plantation of teak and sal trees in the forests owned by the Council since these trees would attract wood smugglers.
“It is a futile exercise and also it is a total wastage of the Council funds since once the teak and sal trees grow up it would definitely attract thieves,” Langrin MDC Manstudy Nongrem (Congress) said while participating in the cut motion on the budget estimates here on Monday.
He also said the presence of teak and sal trees is one of the main factors contributing to rampant felling of trees in the forest areas belonging to the Council.
“Taking into account all these facts, it’s only reasonable that we grow trees which do not attract the wood smugglers so as to be able to protect our forests,” Nongrem said.
Echoing similar views, Laitumkhrah MDC Antonio War said “the Executive Committee (EC) can consider the option of rubber plantation instead of teak and sal so as to generate additional revenue.”
“The EC may even consider setting up a separate rubber board to oversee rubber plantation in the forest areas,” the MDC added.
In his reply, KHADC CEM Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that the EC endorses the view of the Opposition on the need to encourage plantation of trees which are economically viable.
Basaiawmoit also informed the House that rubber plantation has been taken up in some forest areas under the KHADC.
