Stating that both India’s Northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are biodiversity hotspots, it has appealed to the government to pick other regions for the prime minister’s National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
TFM News Service
People For Nature has urged the government to withdraw its national oil palm production initiative in India’s Northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Stating that both the regions are biodiversity hotspots, it has appealed to the government to pick other regions for the scheme.
During a virtual meeting on PM Kishan Scheme on August 9, prime minister Narendra Modi had announced National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), for self-reliance in edible oil, which involves an investment of over Rs 11,000 crore. The scheme aims to reduce expensive palm oil imports.
As per the plan, the special emphasis of the scheme will be on India’s Northeastern states and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Though the central government’s move plans to enhance domestic oil palm production, the scheme is expected to cause a huge impact on the environment and biodiversity in the region, claimed People For Nature in a statement.
Vice president of People For Nature Thoubal Kh Romio Singh said Both Northeastern States and Andaman & Nicobar Islands are biodiversity hotspots. The scheme will contribute to massive deforestation disturbing biodiversity in the regions, he said.
Romio further said in the Miyawaki method of afforestation, indigenous plants are given special preference. The key reason for planting and growing indigenous plants is to protect the ecological balance of a place. However, palm oil is not an indigenous plant and promoting monoculture will have a detrimental impact on ecosystem and wildlife, he added.
Romio also said that palm tree cultivation in a biodiversity hotspot area like Manipur will be more damaging to the environment than poppy plantation. Besides the disadvantages of monoculture, chemicals used in cultivation of oil palm will have a bearing on the ecosystem. Recently the Sri Lankan government, after studying the negative impact of palm oil, has restricted its import and cultivation in the country. It has even ordered the destruction of existing palm trees, he added.
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