Save Aruchal environment: Ering

Our Correspondent

Itagar, April 29: Participating in the debate on ‘Demand for Grants for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Aruchal Pradesh MP Ninong Ering has called upon the Centre to give more thrust on environment protection in Aruchal Pradesh with 83 per cent forest coverage in order to protect the livelihood and employment of the people.

Emphasizing on more fiscal support  to the state, the MP said the Centre should give more impetus in protecting environment  of Aruchal in particular and North East in general since two-third of the population in the region is dependent on the climate sensitive tural resources such as agriculture, forest biodiversity and water availability.

“Effects of climate change are already felt in this region as the monsoon season is marked by frequent floods, as melting Himalayan snow and torrential rains feed the Brahmaputra River.”

He also brought to the notice of Fince Minister Arun Jaitley and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Prakash Javdekar that 10 per cent of Compensatory Afforestation Fund Magement and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds allocation is mandated to be spent in North-East region, but in reality these funds are not being provided as per requirement.

He further said that degradation of environment and climate change is a global problem which needs to be addressed on a priority basis in order to sustain our life on the planet.

Outlining all the major problems being faced by Aruchal Pradesh in particular and North-East in general due to negligence in providing adequate funds under different programmes by the Central Govt,  the MP pointed out in the house  that the North East Industrial Promotion Policy has been termited by this government which has seriously crippled industrial development of the region.

The MP also asked Home Minister Rajth Singh to revoke the draconian law - Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Aruchal Pradesh, for which the minister has assured on the floor of the house, that he will review the AFSPA in Aruchal Pradesh as early as possible.