Guwahati
A group of Members of Parliament (MPs) have urged the central government to reconsider its plans to increase oil palm planting in the northeastern region, citing concerns about its adverse effects on the environment. Led by Pradyut Bordoloi of the Congress party, the MPs have raised alarms about the potential environmental and socioeconomic risks associated with expanding oil palm cultivation in the Northeast. They expressed concerns about deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and water scarcity that could result from such expansion. The MPs, including Vincent Pala from Meghalaya, Abdul Khaleque, Gaurav Gogoi from Assam, Agatha Sangma from the National People Party in Meghalaya, and Lorho S Pfoze from the Naga People’s Front in Manipur, joined Bordoloi in sending a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the letter, they called for a thorough assessment of the oil palm expansion plan in the region and highlighted the unsuitability of the Northeast’s climate for oil palm cultivation. Bordoloi emphasized the need for sustainable planning and consultation with stakeholders before irreversible damage is done to the environment. The MPs argued that the central government should focus on using existing cropland in the peninsula for oil palm production to prevent the need for logging Northeastern forests. The government’s promotion of oil palm farming as a means to reduce dependence on foreign edible oils has raised concerns among environmentalists who warn of potential disastrous environmental impacts. A report by the Centre for Science and Environment has projected that oil palm farming could lead to the loss of 2.5 million hectares of Indian forests by 2030, with implications for carbon storage and climate change.
