Union Minister of State Ashwini Kumar Choubey and others during the press conference at Kohima on September 20. (Morung Photo)
Reports on adverse effects of oil palm are ‘factually incorrect’
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 20
Rubbishing news reports that oil palm plantations have negative impacts on the environment and create ecological imbalances, an official from the Nagaland forest department said, “The adverse effects of palm oil plantation published in the newspapers are factually incorrect.”
Addressing a press conference the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, Climate Change, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey in Kohima today, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Dharmendra Prakash maintained that “the matter needs further investigation. As of now, there is no record or findings that palm oil trees are not good for the eco-system.”
Responding to the query, Chief Advisor of the Union Minister Naveen Jha also rubbished the news reports as ‘negative publicity.’ “Technically, there are no data or where these data have come, is a wonder for us also. It is negative publicity,” he added.
He said the Government of India is trying to have more reserves of edible and inedible oils in the country and added “instead of going for imports, we are trying to increase the capacity both edible and inedible oil.”
It was also told that Andaman and Nicobar Island has expressed their interest for more production of Palm oil plantation as “they have got the facility.”
Rs 20 cr sanctioned to rehabilitate jhum cultivation
During an interaction with media personnel, Union Minister of State Choubey said Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned to the state of Nagaland as a gift under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Fund although Nagaland does not fulfil criteria to qualify for the funds. He said it was through the initiation of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that the money has been sanctioned.
Conveying the commitment of the Government of India towards developing the Northeastern states, and particularly Nagaland, Choubey stated that this fund has been given to stop jhum cultivation and rehabilitate farmers in the state.
The practices of jhum/shifting cultivation, he said has adverse effect on the environment negatively impacting forest reserves as well as water sources.
The Minister said he was immensely impressed with simplicity of the people of Nagaland during his visit to Piphema village today to inspect the JICA Project, and also satisfied with the progress of the project in the village.
As such, he donated Rs 10,000 to the Piphema Village Council for the good progress of the work being taken up by the community, and another Rs 10,000 for the education of any child from the village who has keen interest in promoting and preservation of forest.
Giving a gist of the project, Temjenyabang Jamir, CF (Publicity & Training) said “six districts have been identified under this project, and we are looking at the possibility of shifting from jhum cultivation to ‘settled land use’.”
He said under the project will not only look at the establishment of terraces or bunds, but also towards wider issues like livelihood, value addition and marketing. The income generation activity, Jamir said will be carried out as per the desire of the community with micro-planning in the initial phase.
36 schools selected for nurseries
The Minister Choubey also informed that 36 schools in the state have been selected for setting up nurseries in the schools for which the Ministry is giving Rs 50,000 for the nursery and an additional Rs 40,000 for the expenses of the caretaker.
This, he said is a five year project where monetary assistance will be provided for two years with the intention to promote plantations and nurseries among the students. This will be implemented through the department of forest and environment, it was informed.
