Compensatory afforestation in Jaintia hills in limbo

A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Oct 7: Since the government failed to pass the amendment of the Land Acquisition Bill during the recently concluded Parliament session the bill remains as an Ordince leaving the compensatory afforestation from cement companies in Jaintia Hills in a state of limbo. “Out of nine cement plants in Jaintia Hills there have been only three cement plants which has submitted their application,” Prestone Tynsong Forest and Environment Minister told the media here on Wednesday. Informing that, the department had sorted from the cement plants to submit their application, he said “After the Joint Inspection Team (JIT) had sit for a meeting they have asked the cement plants to submit their application, however some have submitted and the others have not.” He added, “The reason that they have still not acquired the land is due to the fact that under the FC act they cannot give money but they have to give the land.”

“The cement plants will be allowed to use the land for other purposes only after compensation since if the land is being transferred to the state government by the cement plants the land will be reconverted into a reserve forest,” he said.