I wake up very early these days. The mornings are pleasant as summer mornings can be.The season is changing and we are supposed to be in the middle of the monsoons but the intermittent rains are tinged by an everlasting, ever so present cold finger of winter. Every year it seems, winter's imperceptible year long presence is stretching itself out into the maturing year. This may be part of the global warming syndrome. Our impact on the environment is proving to be very costly for us right now in the short run, not to speak of the now predictably insecure future for the Earth and the environment.
The state of Meghalaya needs to have a proper environmental policy linked to commerce, industry and human endeavour.This more so in relation to forests. The extent of forests in the state has shrunk to 15, 584 sq Kms, much of which approximately 95% is in private hands. (see more: http://megforest.gov.in/default.htm://The District Councils which have authority over forests are also ineffective in pro active management ( http://khadc.nic.in/sixth_schedule.htm, http://khadc.nic.in/forests/type%20of%20forest%20control%20n%20manage%20by.htm.) The timber ban of the Supreme Court of India in 1996 has proved and ramified the message that we have to seriously start implementing a dynamic policy where forests are concerned. Here I want to interject the human aspect wherein the urgent need of conservation and preservation of the environment has to be tempered with the human need of employment and resource generation. A new policy has to be formulated along these lines, apart from other considerations. Meghalaya which is a revenue scarce state can fall back on forests as a major source of revenue as the British did long long time ago when they were masters of these hills. I must also emphasis here the unique position we enjoy under the Constitution of India. There is a National Forest Polcy in vogue We do not really need to emulate or implement any national polcy, but in fact our own traditional forest management systems should be improved and streamlined and our example should be emulated by others. I am appalled by the fact that though we are a people who have a deep affinity and link with forests we have no say in the formulation of any policy that severely impacts us especially in the rural areas which comprise around 85% of our people. Its high time we wake up to the realities an shoulder the responsiblity.
The Fullmoon Dhar issue is not dying down with press making more and more speculations and allegations the govenment has finally given in and has appointed a judicial probe. More details on this Search Page :http://www.google.co.in/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enIN332IN333&q=fullmoon+dhar .
So long until next time and regards,
Erwin
Posts
