SHILLONG, Aug 3: Following a renewed demand for scrapping of the 2012 amendment to the Meghalaya Forest Regulation Act, 1973, social activist Michael Syiem has asserted that the definition of ‘forest ’by the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Management & Conservation of forests) Act, 1958 and Rules, 1960, is one of the best and had even been appreciated by the Supreme Court.
Syiem, on Tuesday, said that the amendment to the definition of ‘forest’ took place when they had filed an RTI on cement plants in Jaintia Hills and it was found in the RTI that the cement companies have violated the Forest Conservation Act.
“When we found they have violated the Act, we took up the matter with the government that time when Prestone Tynsong was the Forest Minister,” the said, adding that the government that time moved for the amendment to the definition on the last day of the winter session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly in 2013.
He also recalled that the government has bulldozed its way and the amendment had gone to the Governor, and despite several pleas to keep it on hold, the Governor had that time given the assent. “We need the Government to revert to the original definition of forest,” Syiem said.
