Tynsong worried over stone quarrying

SHILLONG, AUG 4: Expressing concern over the quarrying of stone and sand near the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) which is the lifeline for drinking water in the city, Forest & Environment minister Prestone Tyngsong said the state government wants to improvise the Meghalaya Catchment Areas Act, 1990 to save from further pollution to the water source.

Tynsong expressed the government’s helplessness to have control over the forest cover as land and forest in Meghalaya belong’s to the community and not government because of the land tenure system. The government has control only over the reserve forest.

However Tynsong said in order to stop the ongoing environmental degradation there is a need to create awareness and educate the people on the need to preserve and protect the environment.

Speaking about the areas near the GSWSS, Tynsong said though there is no extensive degradation to the environment but people are indulging in sand and stone quarrying which might damage the environment if not checked.

Tynsong underscored the need to take along the people to stop environmental degradation even as he revealed that the government does not have control over 77 percent forest cover due to land tenure system in the state.

Tynsong told reporters, “We have enough acts and regulations but it is not easy to step in and implement the regulations in the state where we have a peculiar land tenure system.”-By Our Reporter