Massive protest prevents public hearing on mining at Brichyrnot
SHILLONG: A massive protest by hundreds of residents from six villages in East Jaintia Hills District on Saturday prevented district authorities from conducting the public hearing on the expansion of limestone mining project of Star Cement at Brichyrnot area under Narpuh Elaka.
Protesters including school students carrying placards and banners blocked the road and disallowed the Deputy Commissioner FM Doph and officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board from holding the public hearing.
The protest was led by the 6 Shnong Wah Lukha Association backed by several NGOs which include Khasi Students’ Union, Jaintia Students’ Union, Jaintia Students’ Movement and STIEH.
The Star Cement Company has proposed to expand limestone mining from 9 metric tons to 20 metric tons per day, at 42.051 hectares of land in Brichyrnot.
“Conrad K Sangma please don’t preach environmental protection only in Shillong and destroying the environment in Narpuh Area”, “Save wildlife, wildlife will save you, animal big & small let’s save them all” – read some of the placards.
The 6-Shnong Wah Lukha Association had also threatened to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court against the move of the cement company to expand its mines at the village, which is located near the Narpuh wildlife sanctuary and Wah Lukha, a major river. 
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the protest, secretary of the association Daiapherbha Lamare said, “Our protest should be taken as a real public hearing. We strongly oppose the move of the Star Cement to expand its mining project because it will affect the wildlife sanctuary and further contaminate the already polluted Lukha River.”
“If we allow the proposed mining project, people of around 10-15 villages will die of global warming. We are not against development but we have seen all these cement companies are only interested in draining wealth from here by destroying the environment,” he said.
Asked, Lamare said it would be pointless to take part in the public hearing because it is just a formality adding “We know that they will suppress our voices in their report”. He further alleged that the deputy commissioner and other government officials are all “agents” of Star Cement.
Moreover, Daiapherbha also slammed the Meghalaya Wildlife Board under the chairmanship of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma for keeping silent on the serious issue, which will also have a negative impact on the tourism sector in the district.
Stating that people in the whole world are concerning about the ill effects of global warming, president of STIEH, Dewi Tongper said, “Therefore, we have decided to strongly oppose against the proposed project because it is not in the interest of the people.”
Terming the protest as an attempt to mislead the people, management representative of Star cement Devender Bansal said, “The protesters are trying to divert people’s mind. In fact it is legal mining (we are talking) and we are bounded by many provisions of the law.”
Bansal informed that a No-objection certificate was granted by the village dorbar of Brichyrnot and even the Dolloi of Narpuh Elaka. According to him, there are around 150 support letters.
Asked, he said that limestone mining will not damage the environment nor will it pollute the river unlike coal mining which is having high content of sulphur.
According to him, the project would benefit the people of Brichyrnot and the adjacent villages.
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube
Twitter
Leave a Reply