SHILLONG: A delegation of Achik Youth Council met Forest Minister Prestone Tynsong on Monday seeking his intervention in framing a stringent law or mechanism for better protection and preservation of the environment in the Garo hills which is affected by reckless stone and sand mining, tree felling and smuggling of forest produce among others.
The organisation also called for installation of CCTV cameras in all the forest check gates to boost the surveillance system and monitor a close watch on the vehicles to check illegal trade of forest produce.
The AYC also asked the minister to equip the forest guards with sophisticated weapons and impart quality and efficient training from time to time.
In the memorandum submitted to the minister, the Council said that rampant mining activities of stone, sand and forest resources, most of which are smuggled and illegally exported during the night to its adjoining state, Assam and the neighbouring country, Bangladesh is a matter of concern.
Mining has defaced the beautiful hills uprooting trees and plants, eroding the soil, making the land barren, the Council added.
The Council also demanded the need to set up more forest outposts/range offices near the vulnerable streams or riverbank and forest reserves on the regular transit point and other places of Garo Hills to effectively tackle and combat all the environment related issues.
Banning of indiscriminate drilling of bore wells and privatization of underground water must be abolished at the earliest possible as same can equally create disturbances and ecological imbalance in the surrounding area, the Council said. The organisation asked both the state forest department and GHADC to collaborate and coordinate with one another to curb and contain all the activities causing destruction to environment.
