Pawan Kumar Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim defended the Government’s proposed move to ban non-organic products from outside the state on Tuesday.
Sikkim Government on Tuesday withdrew a bill that sought a ban on supply of non-organic produces in Sikkim from outside, citing paucity of time.
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“The proposed move to ban supply of non-organic produces in a phased manner in Sikkim from outside has been taken to boost production and consumption of organic produces grown domestically for a host of reasons,” Chamling said in the State Assembly during a two-day special session of the House.
“By taking a tough decision like banning supply of non-organic produces from outside in a phased manner in Sikkim and giving impetus to production and consumption of organic produces that we can make, our state will be self-reliant in farm sector in the long run,” he said.
The proposed measure will boost farm income and take care of health of the people as well as soil and environment.
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The Chief Minister however conceded that banning supply of non-organic produces like vegetables and fruits from outside will create crisis because of inadequate production of organic produces domestically, but hoped that the people will manage for the time being in the larger interests of the state.
It was for this anticipated shortage of organic produce that his government has deferred ban on supply of potato and onion to next year as there is huge demand for these produces in the state.
Chamling said that by going ahead with ban on supply of non-organic produces in Sikkim in phased manner, his government wants only rice and petro products to be supplied from outside in state in the future.