Three major rivers will be affected by Star Cement’s limestone expansion project: Leningstar Rymbai

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 4, 2019

JOWAI: The Jaintia Students Movement (JSM) Central Body today expressed opposition to proposed expansion of limestone and shale mining project of Star Cement Meghalaya for fearing of adverse affect to the flora and fauna of Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary and safe haven for the persons excluded in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam.

In representation to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board Chairman submitted through the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District this afternoon, JSM Central Body President Leningstar Rymbai demanded the cancellation of the public hearing scheduled on 19^th October, 2019 at Brishyrnot as the people of the area do not welcome the project as it will have a long lasting adverse affect on the environment.

He said that they have to come to learnt that M/s Star Cement Meghalaya Limited proposed to carry out mining of limestone located in Brishyrnot, East Jaintia Hills District where the proposed maximum annual production of limestone is 2.507 metric tons per annum and the proposed maximum annual production of shale is 0.217 million tons per annum from the mining lease area of 42.051 hectares.

He also said that they understand that M/s Star Cement targets to make the Brishyrnot mine as its source of limestone for manufacturing of clinker.

Putting forward his argument for the opposition to the proposed expansion project of Star Cement, Rymbai said the proposed project site is located at a distance of 1.46 kilometers from the Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary and the mine lease boundary is located at a distance of 0.25 km from the Eco Sensitive Zone of the said Sanctuary.

The proximity of the proposed mining site to the Sanctuary is highly unwelcomed as there is every possibility of adverse affect to the flora and fauna of the Sanctuary, he further said. Moreover there are seventeen villages around the proposed mining site, which will have to bear the adverse affect from the mining activity, he added.

Raising an alarm for the well being of the river in the area, the JSM Central Body President informed that the distance of River Lukha is only 1.38 kilometer from the proposed mining site while River Um Lunar is bordering the eastern boundary of the proposed site and River Umso Nallah is adjacent to Northern Boundary.

“In view of the closeness of these three rivers to the project site, there is every possibility that the proposed mining of limestone will eventually lead to contamination of these three rivers despite all precautionary measures,” he pointed out.

Rymbai said that it is understands that due to the use of mine machinery, drilling & blasting, loading & unloading and vehicular movement will result in noise pollution to the seventeen villages, which will have an adverse impact on the health of the local residents.

He further said that there has been several hue and cries from local residents due to the impact of blasting carried out by cement plants in the past resulted in the vibration of the grounds and thereby causing damages to the properties.

The JSM Central Body President said it is imminent that due to the proposed mining there will be rise of air pollution in the area affecting the health of the seventeen villages in the buffer zone of the project as there will be drilling, blasting and others for excavation of limestone which will produce dust particles and also contamination of the air due to gaseous emissions from the heavy use of excavators, dumpers and transport vehicles.

He also said that as observed in the past, the price of Star Cement is costlier in the State of Meghalaya than in Assam thus it is no point having Star Cement in the State where the people do not benefit.

Rymbai said  that it is understood that the project cost of the proposed mining is Rs. 16 crore and the turnover as a result of the mining of limestone from Brishyrnot would be ten time ten the project cost but the amount earmarked for the Corporate Environmental Responsibility is only Rs. 32 lakh which is a peanut size and insufficient.

He also said that the M/s Star Cement in the past had made several promises for uplifting the economic conditions of the local people but has failed to so till date.

The upcoming youth leader said that in view of the recent publication of NRC in Assam there is every possibility that people excluded from the NRC of Assam would try to come to work in the proposed mining project of M/s Star Cement and it has been observed that the M/s Star Cement does not extend cooperation to local social organizations when they come to authenticate the antecedents of the workers in M/s Star Cement.