Eastern Himalayan Youths urge CMs
Dimapur, September 6 (MExN): The Eastern Himalayan Youth Coordinating Committee on Climate Change on Sunday submitted a representation to Chief Ministers of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, seeking withdrawal of the proposed Palm Oil plantation in all the states of the North East under the NMEO-OP (National Mission on Edible Oil - Oil Palm).
In the representation, the committee cited various negative impacts of Palm Oil plantations and requested the CMs to withdraw all the Laws passed by the respective legislative assemblies with regard to Palm Oil Plantations in the North Eastern States of India. In lieu of Palm Oil, it requested the CMs to encourage the farmers to produce large scale vegetable oil by planting and producing mustard oil.
Stating that the biodiversity of the Northeast is a genetic treasure of various forms of plants and animals, the committee underscored that the region comes under the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot which ranks 6th among the 25 biodiversity hotspot of the world. Most of the North-Eastern states have more than 60% of our areas are under forest cover, it said.
Large scale forest areas have been disappeared due to construction of mega dams, mining, oil exploration, expansion of highways, etc. giving serious negative impact on the people inhabitant in the region, environment, animals, flora and fauna, etc., the representation stated.
The committee maintained that the large scale plantation of palm trees for the production of Palm Oil in the region under the NMEO-OP scheme is “yet another doom proposal for the people of North East,” while pointing out that the negative impact of Palm Oil plantation has been witnessed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Colombia and other parts of the world. Learning from the same, the Sri Lankan Government totally banned the plantation of Palm Oil Trees and also import and export of the same in the early part of this year, it added.
While stating that “the bitter experience being experienced by the people due to plantation of Palm Oil in Mizoram,” was another such example, the committee asserted that, “The proposal of the Prime Minister for the plantation of Palm Oil at large scale across the North East is not a step which is peoples friendly and environment friendly.”
Stating that Palm Oil plantation leads to air pollution, soil and water pollution, soil erosion, human and animal conflict, encourage climate change, deforestation, loss of habitation, loss of biodiversity, displacement, demographic change due engagement of migrant workers, etc., the committee urged the CMs to consider the facts and take necessary action in the best interest of the public.
