SHILLONG: Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy maintained that there should not be a full stop to coal mining but instead methods should be evolved to mine coal without causing pollution.
He was speaking at the valedictory function of the 3rd North East Green Summit 2018 at the State Convention Center on Friday organised by Meghalaya Pollution Control Board, Social Forestry and Environment Wing, Forest and Environment Department.
He was referring to the allegations that Kopili River turned acidic due to coal mining. “In Meghalaya, rat-hole mining is a very dangerous method,” he said adding that new methods are to be looked into for effecting coal mining without causing pollution.
Roy also voiced his concern on Shillong town getting populated beyond capacity. Speaking of the menace of plastic, he said, “Plastics have to be banished.”
Reminiscing the aspect of visual environment in the Assam-type houses which has given way to “ugly flat roofed concrete” houses, he turned to the Urban Affairs Minister, Hamlet Dohling urging him to “give some architectural regulation if not in Shillong but in new Shillong.”
Commenting on the increasing congestion, Roy said there should be more public transport and less private transport.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, Jishnu Deb Barman said environmental concerns should be adhered for development to be sustainable.
According to him, indigenous people and forests are to be integrated in order to ensure the indigenous people and forests survive.
“Indigenous people must be taken into confidence while framing a policy on tourism although tourism has got potential,” he said.
Director of Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Dinabandhu Sahoo outlined the importance of the summit for the North Eastern Region as the region is at the top of the Bio-Diversity hot-spot.
He stressed on promoting nature-based tourism and not only urban tourism taking into consideration the high inflow of tourists to the region.
On the other hand, he said the ethnic cuisine, handicrafts etc., of the North Eastern region should be popularised outside the North Eastern region as well.
Sahoo called upon the creation of dedicated group of green warriors in the state.
