SHILLONG, Sep 21: Forest Minister James Sangma has assured National People’s Party (NPP) leaders from Mylliem Block that the government does not intend to divert any protected forests to the Indian Air Force.
The assurance from the forest minister comes after NPP leaders from Mylliem Block submitted a memorandum to him and flagged apprehensions over the alleged diversion of forest land to the Indian Air Force.
“As a government, we treat such concerns with utmost importance and have been very clear in our understanding that all such protected forests, which fall under the forest department, are critical catchment areas. Therefore, in terms of land and forest conservation, they are of the greatest environmental importance,” the forest minister said, making it clear that “the government has no intention of diverting any protected forests to the Air Force”.
The minister also expressed gratitude to the NPP leaders from Mylliem for bringing to the fore the environmental concerns of the locals.
“We value the environment, placing paramount importance on the need to conserve it in every way possible, especially at a time when issues like climate change are likely to become critical threats to us,” the forest minister said.
