SHILLONG: The central body of the Meghalaya Land Forest Owners Association (MLFOA), which met here on Friday to discuss the proposed amendment of the Indian Forest Act 1927, has resolved to collaborate with the committee constituted by the KHADC and to urge the present MDCs of the KHADC to make effort to resolve these long-pending issues relating to conflict with central legislation for last 39 years since passing of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
The meeting appreciated the forest department of the state government and other officials for convening the meeting to discuss the draft Indian Forest Act 1927, and expressed their appreciation to Tienwell Dkhar, Chief Executive Member, KHADC for notifying a committee of seventeen members including MLAs and MDCs from KHADC and the stakeholders from Meghalaya Land Forest Owners Association (MLFOA) and the Federation of Khasi States (FKS) to deliberate on the proposed draft Indian Forest Act 1927.
The meeting also resolved to urge khadc and state government to exempt/amend these central laws on forest, biodiversity and others given the ground reality where these laws do not recognise the various types of land-holding, and the hundreds of cubic feet of timber are required annually in over 3,000 villages within the 54 Hima in Khasi Hills and 19 Elaka in Jaintia Hills for various wood-based activities such as house construction, house repair, furniture and others.
They also decided to submit a memo to the KHADC committee on forest relating to the draft Indian Forest Act 1927, after approval of the Central Body, and general meeting of MLFOA and other like-minded associations.
The MLFOA will collaborate with the association for quarrying under Khasi and Jaintia Hills and other like-minded organisations who are all facing challenges arising out of these central legislation, which is not as per the local circumstances as it is noted that MGNREGA under C&RD dept requires hundreds of MT of boulders and chips to implement the 100-day employment scheme.
They also decided to seek clarification from the KHADC on its views on the use of the word ‘lease” in the forms for mining of quarry and other similar activities and if such definition contradicts the customary ownership of land as confirmed by Supreme Court recently and whether the KHADC should advise the chiefs and general public to stop issuing NOC till such time all these issues are resolved.
