Assembly panel directs action against illegal coke factories in WKH

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 31, 2020

The Assembly’s Committee on Environment (CoE) has directed the district administration of West Khasi Hills to take action against the illegal operation of as many as eight coke factories.

“We have directed the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills to immediately stop the operation of these illegal coke factories,” CoE member and legislator from Mawsynram, Himalaya Shangpliang told reporters after a meeting held on Friday.

He said as per reports, the eight coke factories have been operating without obtaining any permission from the authorities concerned.

According to him, the owners of the eight factories have even failed to turn up before the additional deputy commissioner, who was conducting an inquiry into the matter.

Expressing concern over the sudden mushrooming of coke factories especially in Shallang area of the district, Shangpliang said the committee has viewed the matter very seriously as this is causing a lot of health hazards in the area.

He said the commerce and industries department has given permission for the setting up of 16 coke factories of which 7 are already operational.

“We therefore, have decided to direct the department to allow setting up of only 7 coke factories while the remaining, who are in their different stages of obtaining permission, should not be allowed to continue,” Shangpliang informed.

On the complaint against air pollution caused by a ferro alloy industry near Nongstoin, the MLA said the committee has sought a report from the mining department along with details of the challan of coal which the factory had claimed to have purchased from Andra Pradesh.

According to him, the report submitted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) on the inspection conducted to the ferro alloy industry 15 days ago was a very bleak one.

Meanwhile, the CoE member informed that the committee will visit West Khasi Hills to conduct a spot inspection of all the industries including the coke factories in the district on August 18.