Calcutta Telegraph; Thursday , September 23 , 2010;
Shillong, Sept. 22: A Shillong-based NGO today revealed largescale irregularities in the functioning of charcoal-based industries in Meghalaya, which use charcoal produced by burning illegally felled trees, violating the Supreme Court order banning felling.
The government also incurs loss of revenue by granting permission to such ferro-alloy units, which enjoy huge financial subsidies.
Maitshaphrang, the NGO, alleged that these industries employ a negligible number of local people, going against the government policy that calls for 60 per cent employment of locals in industries set up in the state.
Maitshaphrang convenor Michael Syiem, along with other NGOs, revealed that the state government was giving subsidies to as many as 11 charcoal-based industries in Ri-Bhoi district without any profit. The NGOs obtained this information through a Right to Information petition.
The RTI findings indicate that in West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills, forest cover is fast denuding due to rampant felling. This has also affected the ecology of Nongknum, a river island, Syiem said.
The industries set up so far have availed of subsidy and other allowances worth Rs 6.53 crore from the state government and transport subsidy worth Rs 36.35 crore from the Centre during 2003-06, he said.
Moreover, though the industrial units are supposed to provide 60 per cent jobs to the locals, out of 495 employees in all 11 units, only 75 are Khasis and 40 Garos.
But the major cause for concern, according to Syiem, is the illegal charcoal production. When contacted, a senior official with the state forest department admitted that there are many unauthorised charcoal producers in the state.
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