KSU knocks CM door to cancel public hearing for Star Cement in East Jaintia Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 18, 2020

The Environment Cell of the Khasi Students’ Union defy an arriere-pensee hearing to be held at Khliehriat, Deputy Commissioner Office on November 21.

As per several sections of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2006, conducting of the said public hearing by the concerned authority is Illegitimate and unlawful.

The Khasi Students’ Union Central Executive Council in its letter to the Chief Minister has expressed its resentment against the Public Hearing for Brishyrnot Limestone Deposit in Narpuh, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya which is scheduled on the 21st of November, 2020 at the Deputy Commissioner office in Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya.

The Environment Cell opposed the said public hearing due to the following grounds:
The said hearing is being conducted at the time of the pandemic is not prudent as it may pave way to the spread of COVID -19 again in the region.

The place of public hearing has been shifted/changed to the Deputy Commissioner Office in Khlehriat, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya which is far from the concerned area of mining and the local affected persons and others who have a plausible stake in the environmental impacts of the project will not be able to attend the public hearing. This is illegitimate and unlawful way of conducting a public hearing by the concerned authorities as based on the Section 7 (III) (II) (a) and (b) of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2006, a public hearing is to be conducted at the site of the project or at its close proximity, whereas in the present scenario the place for public hearing is distant from the site of the project.

Several attempts had already been made to conduct the public hearing and this is the third time and every time the people has voiced out their opinion as to why they do not require that M/s Star Cement to expand its mining projects as it will have a huge environmental degradation which in turn will affect the health and livelihood of the people in that region along with several other major issues. However, the concerned authorities this time has strategically and suspiciously place the public hearing far from the site of the project and at the office of the Deputy Commissioner as to discourage the concerned affected people to be a part of the public hearing and also the number of people to attend the public hearing has been fixed. This is likely to be said that the concerned authorities along with M/s Star Cement are trying to suppress the voice of the public and also forcing the expansion of the mining without really taking the stakeholders and the affected people into consideration.

The Environment Cell of the Khasi Students’ Union – Central Executive Council reiterates the following points as to why the expansion of the mining by M/s Star Cement must be opposed, which are as follows:

Pollution to Lukha River: The proposed site for expansion of mining by M/s Star Cement is located approximately 500 metres from Lunar River which in turns flows to Lukha River. This would directly or indirectly pollute the river as wastes and other effluents would be discharged to the river. Even at the present scenario, due to unchecked mining and discharged of effluents into the rivers, the water from the rivers are no longer fit to consume and other water sources from springs and ponds are being contaminated.

Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary: The Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary which is located adjacent to the proposed mining area hold a number of endangered species like Hoolock Gibbons, many types of rare orchids and various others animals and birds. And the area has also been deemed as an Eco- Sensitive Zone, so any mining adjacent to the area would have a direct impact at the Eco-Sensitive Zone.

Void of proper Effluent Treatment Plant: There are various cements factories in Narpuh and none of the cement factories has an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). Thus, allowing the cement factories to discharge the wastes untreated which in turn pollutes the ponds, lakes and rivers and also has collateral damage on the flora and fauna. 4. Conversion of forest land into waste land: Huge areas of forest land are being converted into waste land which in turn pollutes the air and also farmlands and crops had been affected due to toxins released from cement factories.

The Environment Cell of the Khasi Students’ Union – Central Executive Council seeks the intervention of the Chief Minister in the matter. As the whole world is raising the issues of global warming and climate change and restraining the options which hamper the environment, the State too, should see that the efforts are made to keep a check at environmental degradation and pave way for sustainable development without hampering the environment, the letter added.

The Union urged the Chief Minister’s Office to forbid the public hearing and also to prohibit any expansion of the cement plant in Narpuh region which will affect the environment.