SHILLONG: Concerned over the rampant environmental degradation and increased infringement by humans in catchment areas, the East Khasi Hills District Administration is out to convince people to allow the State Government to declare such places as protected areas.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said that in view of the large scale deforestation and human activities hampering the catchment areas, it is pertinent that such areas are declared protected.
Goyal said that the District Administration would focus on the protection of the catchment areas to ensure that there is no depletion of forests and green cover.
The proposed amendment to the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Areas Act, 1990 has been hanging fire for the last three years and the State Government has not been able to move forward the proposed amendments due to the peculiar land tenure system in the State.