NE MPs demand adequate compensation for protecting Himalayan ECOLOGY


GANGTOK, February 12: Asserting that the underdeveloped Northeastern region is shouldering the Himalayan environmental and bio-diversity responsibilities of the country, the Parliamentary members of the region today collectively iterated its demand for adequate compensation from the Union government.

The role of Northeastern region has increased for protecting the nation’s biodiversity and we have been conserving our forests for clean environment and sake of humanity, said Mukut Mithi, chairman of North East MPs’ Forum (NEMPF) in his opening remarks of the one day NEMPF summit here at Gangtok.

“We have already banned the commercial felling of trees from forests but we need to be compensated. This forum will work to demand the Centre for adequate compensation to the region”, said Mithi who is also the Rajya Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh.
Around 27 MPs from the Northeast region are participating in this one day summit.
In his opening remarks, Mithi said that NEMPF has been formed to influence policy decisions of the Centre in the interests of the Northeast. This is a platform of mutual interests to deliberate in issues which impact or likely to impact the people of Northeast, he said.

Highlighting the importance of Northeast region which is connected with the mainstream India through the narrow strategic ‘Chicken Neck’ zone, Mithi said that the region share five international borders including with China. We are like buffer region and this has to be discussed and suggestions must come from the seminar, he said.

Mithi said that the growth rate of the Northeastern region is lower than the national average because of corruption, insurgency and absence of industries due to extortion. Undeniably peace is the precursor for development and the Centre must talk directly with the insurgent groups for peace in the region, he said. He expressed his hopes that the summit would come up with practical and implemental resolutions and be a milestone in the development of the region.

Minister of State (Water Resources) Vincent Pala said that there should be collective intensive efforts to stop the environmental degradation of the hills of the Northeastern region. There is a need for afforestation through local governments and to improve the hill development, he said.

We need appropriate technologies to bring sustainable development and alternate employment opportunities in the region to reduce pressure on our forests, said Pala.

He said that the region desperately needs sustainable development through creation of jobs, eco industries, clean energy and new technology.

The Minister of State also praised Sikkim government for the rapid progress the State has made over the years. It is imperative that other States should follow the tourism model of Sikkim, he said.

Sikkim Lok Sabha member and also the NEMPF general secretary, PD Rai said that NEMPF is a collective forum of all the MPs from the Northeast cutting across political lines. We would be trying to take out outcome driven agendas for the next four and half years for the development of the region, he said.