Amid heatwave, Saleng calls for end to anti-green activities

SHILLONG, April 21: As the heatwave continues to sizzle the entire country, including Meghalaya, Congress MLA Saleng Sangma has made a fervent appeal to the state government to take all necessary measures to pull the plug on activities like illegal felling and smuggling of trees, illegal coal mining and functioning of illegal coke factories, which are hazardous to the environment.
Speaking to media persons here on Friday, Saleng, while terming the situation alarming, said the government must take some immediate measures to address the issue.
Stating that a lot of money is being collected in the name of cess for rejuvenation, he added that the same money is not being utilised properly. “The government must make the public aware about the need to protect and safeguard the environment,” he said.
According to Saleng, rampant felling and smuggling of trees are prevalent in areas like South West Khasi Hills.
“If we keep on thinking only about politics, there will be more disasters in the state,” he cautioned.
“People are dying due to the heatwave and the government should take the initiative to make them understand about the importance of the environment,” Saleng said, lamenting that even after several years of Independence, people in India still practise jhum cultivation.
Pointing out that illegal coke plants and illegal mining of coal are major contributors to heatwave, he said that the government should take some measures to address the issue.
It may be mentioned that the state government has maintained that the heatwave situation in the state is “under control”, and has asserted that the Health department is focused on dealing with any eventuality.