WKH prefers paddy to elephants

Shillong, August 7: West Khasi hills residents have opposed the government’s proposal of setting up Elephant reserve along the line of Balpakram National Park.

The residents consist of different clans of the district.

Affect by the timber ban by the Supreme Court and also the rise of insurgency West Khasi Hills residents have vowed to fight the government decision of setting up Elephant reserve in their district as they felt it will affect their livelihood.

 
A representation signed by the leaders of Mawsor, Nongmin, Nongbri and Sohbar clans to the Chief Wild Life Warden said, “We are not opposed to the conservation and preservation environment, but, creating elephant reserve in our land without consulting us as this  is an infringement to our rights.”.
Talking to this reporters on Tuesday, Mawpoid Private land owner R. Mawsor said, “We are not against the environment preservation but converting our farming land into a Elephant reserve will affect more than 200 villages and their livelihood.”

The distric’st residents felt that the government should have taken them into consideration before deciding to turn their land into elephants reserve. The clans have given deadline for replying and stopping the entire process.
According to Mawsor, the villages that will affect most is Riangmaw, Riangdim, Khalu, Bokchung, Thedteja, Amarshang, Nirang, Langgmar Nongmin, Weikut Umtonukut and other two hundred villages

According to the notification which appeared in a vernacular daily on July 13 the government has given a month time to the land owners to give their view of on their decision.

The areas that the government wants to turn intp elephants reserve are North Nongshram, Riangshiang, Nongrathaw, Nonginjse, Althiabari, East Wahphodra, Nongmalang, Nongurmrmer, Nongumiang RF and Maweit. South follows Maheskola, Nonghyllam along the Bangladesh boredr and in the West Along the Balpakram National Park, Riangmaw, Ringdim, Khalu, Bokchung and others villages including Thedteja, Amarshang, Nirang, Langgmar Nongmin, Weikut, Umtonukut and others. – By Suraj Joshi.