PAC recommends closure of veneer mills in the state

It has further directed the forest department to pull up erring divisional forest officers (DFOs) for their failure in taking action against illegal sawmills across the state.

“We have taken a strong view and directed them (forest dept) to check on these veneer mills whether they are adhering to the rules laid down and if not they should be closed down as veneer is not a value added product,” PAC chairman Charles Pyngrope said.

Speaking to reporters after its meeting which summoned senior officials of the department, Pyngrope, who is also MLA from Nongthymmai said, “By saying that we need veneer mills or plywood factory in the state is totally unjustified. Therefore, it (veneer) should be cut off from the department’s list and that veneer mills should be asked to close down as we don’t need them.”

According to him, the veneer that is extracted from the timber is not a value added product as the end product is the plywood. This is just another material to make the plywood. Therefore by saying that veneer is a value added product is actually misleading.

“In fact, Meghalaya cannot afford to have any veneer mill or plywood factory in the state with the forest that we have because the plywood from outside the state in Assam, West Bengal and Orrisa is plentiful which does not affect the costing when it reaches Shillong.”

Stating that the matter of environmental degradation is a concern of all, the senior Congress leader said, “Taking this into consideration, we found that the department of forest and environment needs to strengthen their laws and their working so that illegal felling of trees and export of timber by saying that they are value added has to be checked.”

PAC member and Umroi legislator George Lyngdoh informed that there are about 33 licensed veneer mills in the industrial estate as per records of the department that are consuming huge amount of timbers every year.

He said this according to the PAC seems to be a concern because of the environmental degradation that is happening across the state.

“We have asked the department to review these licensed veneer mills and if needed to clamp down on the production capacity and on the amount of timber that is required by them to protect the environment in the state,” Lyngdoh said.

Expressing concern on the many illegal sawmills that are still operating in the state, the Congress legislator from Umroi said that this shows that the Supreme Court’s order passed in 1997-98 has not been adhered to.

He said that the department has not move a step in order to ensure proper rehabilitation and proper system in place to have a healthy environment for the operation of sawmills in the state.

Currently, Lyngdoh said that the department and government are working on a system to bring out a comprehensive plan so to ensure how the illegal sawmills be brought under the purview of the apex court’s ruling.

On the other hand, Congress legislator from Mawsynram Himalaya M Shangpliang said that the PAC has also viewed the matter seriously and directed the senior officials of the department to pull up the erring DFOs.

According to him, there are instances in the department where lots of cases relating to the operation of illegal sawmills that have been detected but no follow up action was taken by the DFOs.

“Many DFOs have been found wanting not following up with the cases that have been detected. Illegal sawmills were closed and after six months these sawmills again they open up its because the laws that are implicated are very soft and there is not much follow up by concerned DFOs and that is why it encourages these illegal sawmill owners  to reopen the sawmills that have been closed,” Shangpliang said.

He further pointed out that there is a particular DFO in West Garo Hills where cases have been detected and inspite of instructions to take action, the officer concerned has not responded till date.

“These matters are serious as it amounts to collusion, it amounts to a lot of suspicion of a nexus that is happening between the officials and the illegal doers,” the MLA said while also expressing hopes that the government will take up the matter very seriously.

By Our Reporter