SHILLONG, AUG 30: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said a comprehensive amendment of the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Area Act, 1990 is under consideration .
In his reply, Sangma said that the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Area Act 1990 could not be implemented effectively as it does not provide any other mechanism for creation of catchment areas except through consent of the land owners which is extremely difficult to secure.
“Therefore, a comprehensive amendment of the act is under consideration. We will have a consultation with landowners (and other stakeholders including dorbar shnongs). We are open to all options, discussion and all kinds of amendment to ensure this Act can be enforced in a proper manner with the cooperation of the landowners (and other stakeholders),” he said.
Sangma said the Act stated that the governmnet may on the advise of the advisory board and on receiving the consent of the landowners may delcare an area to be catchment area.
He however said the government did not get written consent of the landowners in all locations identified for declaration as catchment areas. These are critical areas from where rivers, streams originated and serve as water supply system to any town, village or group of them.
“Therefore, I appeal to our MLAs of this House that we need to work together as the landowners’ consent is required…(this is also) a message to the landowners that we need to work together for the interest of present and future generation to come,” Sangma added.
The chief minister informed that the government had identified over 7000 critical springs in the state and of which, 750 are actually in severe state right now.
“We are coming up with an (action) plan through the soil and water conservation department. We are also working with the PHE department to preserve and conserve and rejuvenate these springs using the latest technologies,” he said.
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