SHILLONG: In view of the growing concern of environmental degradation, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly held discussion on the functioning of illegal sawmills and operation of veneer mills legally sanctioned by the state.
Chairman of the PAC, Charles Pyngrope was critical of the functioning of the Forest Department as he said there were irregularities in the department in relation to timber and minor minerals.
“It has been observed that because of the laxity of Forest Department, the government has lost revenue close to about Rupees hundred crores,” he said.
Outlining some of the operation of illegal sawmills in the state , PAC member, George Lyngdoh said the Supreme Court order which was given out in 1997-’98, has not been adhered to.
“The department has not move a step in order to ensure proper system in place to have a healthy environment for the operation of sawmills in the state,” he said.
He informed that the department was working on a system to bring out a comprehensive plan to ensure that the illegal sawmills could be brought under the purview of the Supreme Court ruling as well as to facilitate a healthy environment for them.
The PAC has asked the department to make a review immediately and submit report to the committee.
Meanwhile, PAC member, HM Shangpliang said no follow-up action has been taken on illegal sawmills although they were detected.
“Many divisional forest officers have been found wanting in following up with the cases that have been detected,” he said adding that illegal saw mills would resume functioning six months after they had been closed down.
He viewed the matter seriously and said it led to suspicion of a nexus between forest officials and illegal doers.
Veneer mills
Speaking on veneer mills stationed in the industrial estate, Lyngdoh said there were about 33 veneer mills which as per the records of the department were consuming huge amounts of timber every year.
“This is a cause of concern because of the environmental degradation that is happening across the state. The Committee has asked the department to review the operation of licensed veneer mills and if needed, clamp down on the production capacity and the amount of timber required by the mills to protect the environment in the state,” he said.
Pyngrope asserted that Meghalaya cannot afford to venture with veneer mills considering its harmful impact on the environment.
“The veneer that extracted from the timber is not a value added product because the end product is plywood. To say that veneer is a value added product is misleading. To say that we need veneer mill or plywood factory in the state is unjustified,” he said.
“Veneer is not a value added product and struck off from the department’s list. Veneer mills should be asked to close down,” he added.
On the illegal mining of sand, limestone and boulders, Lyngdoh referred to CAG report that huge loss of revenue was incurred.
He criticized the laxity of the department in monitoring the illegal mining which is still continuing.
Pynrope said, “The department of Forest needs to strengthen the laws so that illegal felling of trees and export of timber by saying that they are value added can be checked.”