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Minister Tells Biwott Off Over
Forests
The East
African Standard (Nairobi)
February
11, 2004
Posted to the web February 11,
2004
Ayub Savula
Nairobi
Environment
Minister Dr Newton Kulundu yesterday took on Keiyo South MP
Nicholas Biwott for criticising the issuance of tree harvesting
licences to major saw millers.
Kulundu told
Biwott to keep off the Narc Government's policy of conserving
forests.
He was reacting
to a report quoting Biwott as saying it was unfair for the
Government to give Raiply and Pan African Paper mills licences to
harvest trees in Keiyo District at the expense of the local
residents.
The former
minister had also defended residents against claims that they were
contributing to the massive destruction of forests.
Biwott had
accused the two paper firms of felling indigenous trees in the
forests.
"Where was
Hon Biwott to influence the Government in his capacity as a
minister to deny the companies licences to harvest trees in his
district?" posed Kulundu.
The minister
said the Government had streamlined tree harvesting.
"We have
tightened the noose around briefcase saw millers who used to
operate during those (Kanu) days," said Kulundu on the
telephone.
He said the ban
on timber harvesting was imposed by Kanu "without
consideration to the common man".
The minister
announced that plans were now complete to begin harvesting timber
in a sustainable manner.
"When Kanu
was in power, saw millers would be allocated huge chunks of forest
land on which to harvest trees," he said.
He defended the
licensing of Raiply and Panpaper, saying the firms were allowed to
operate in designated areas where they were required to carry out
re-afforestation after logging.
Link : http://allafrica.com/stories/200402110109.html
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