By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Forest and Environment department Minister Prestone Tynsong has informed that he would soon place the proposed amendments to the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Areas Act, 1990, before the Cabinet.
“As soon as we receive the views from the Law department, I will bring the proposed amendments to the Cabinet,” Tynsong said while speaking to The Shillong Times on Wednesday.
He said the Government has brought this amendment taking into consideration the serious and rapid depletion of catchments areas in various parts of the State.“With the proposed amendments, the Government will have a better say in the protection of catchment areas including those owned by private parties ,” the Forest and Environment Minister said, adding that the Government at present has little control over catchment areas which are privately owned.
According to Tynsong, one of the clauses in the existing act says the Government can exercise control over these catchment areas subject to the agreement of the private land owners.
“We intend to remove this particular clause from the Act,” the Forest and Environment Minister said.
If this clause is deleted the Government would have better control and management over catchments areas which are presently under private land owners, he said.Tynsong also informed that the Government intends to insert a new clause in the Act to delegate more powers to the concerned officers of the Forest and Environment Department for protection of the catchment areas which are in private lands.
