The battle against illegal coke plants is won but the war is on

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 12, 2023

“The battle is won but the war is on,” a famous quote appropriate for the Environment Coordination Committee of the Elaka Sutnga (ECCES) at the juncture after demolition of two illegal coke factories in Elaka Sutnga on Wednesday and the cent percent assurance of demolishing the remaining 32 illegal coke factories.

The ECCES who have been waging war against the illegal coke factories for the past two years are unsatisfied with the mere demolition of the coke factories but want the persons behind the coke factories to be brought to justice.

Reacting to the demolition drive of the coke factories, ECCES Advisor Reading War said High Court directed the Govt to nail the people who started and run the illegal coke factories in East Jaintia Hills District.

Two illegal coke factories demolished, 30 more to go in East Jaintia Hills

He asserted, “We are ready to assist the state in nailing all those people who started the illegal coke plants in the district.”

War informed they have sufficient proof that there are benami practices in the operation of the coke plants in the district as per the RTI from the concerned department. He also said that there are 32 coke plant units especially those coke plants with consent to operate or CTOs originally owned by non-tribal business men but operated through benami practices.

War informed that the DC East Jaintia Hills assured that a total of 34 units will be demolished.

He also warned that after demolition of all the illegal coke, the next step to fight would be easier for those who had obtain CTO and “we will proof how unprofessional and reckless are the official of the MSPCB while issuing the CTO.”

The ECCSE Advisor said during the early months of this year the MSPCB granted CTEs to 3 units of coke plants in East Jaintia District. He also said that they are M/s Magic Coke, M/s, M.M Minerals and M/S Presidium Breeze at Nongsning village Elaka Sutnga.

War said these three units have been categorized as erring unit and fines have been imposed and their application have been rejected as they have established without CTE in the report furnished to the NGT last year.

He questioned on what basis the MSPCB revived the papers and legalizing these units.

“We demand to withdraw or stay the operation of the CTEs of the three units within 2 weeks failing which we will resort to other remedial measures,” War asserted.