SHILLONG, JULY 25: The Meghalaya government will soon constitute a joint government-civil society commission to monitor and advice on environmental issues.
Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma announced, “A joint government – civil society commission would soon be established for proper monitoring of issues relating to environment.” The announcement was made during the concluding session of the Citizens conference on environmental governance held on Thursday.
The conference was organized by the Informed Conscious and Responsible Existence (ICARE), which was inaugurated by Governor Krishan Kant Paul.
Sangma also said that the State Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy, 2012 will undergo further restructuring here. He was of the opinion that the policy still requires further restructuring to meet its objectives.
Sangma said, “Fine-tuning of the policy will also require inputs from civil society groups as the government would not like to be seen as an imposing authority.”
Last year, the government had notified the policy with the rider that it will be implemented only a year after the announcement was made.
But Sangma, who also holds the mining and geology department, did not spell out the areas where the restructuring will be required in the policy.
The conference adopted a 14-point “citizen’s declaration on environmental governance”.
On the points adopted was the formation of the government-civil society commission which Sangma immediately decided to implement to monitor and advice on environmental governance. He said, “The other points of the declaration would be used as the commissioner’s terms of reference.” – By Our Reporter
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