Villages in EJH threatens to file petition against expansion project of cement cos

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 14, 2019

SHILLONG: The 6-Shnong Wah Lukha Association has threatened to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court against the move of a cement company to expand its mines at a village near the Narpuh wildlife sanctuary and Wah Lukha, a major river in East Jaintia Hills district. 

Addressing media persons here on Monday, president of the association Womsar Talang said the association has vehemently oppose holding of the public hearing for expansion of mining lease/mines by M/s Star Cement Meghalaya Limited on October 19. 

The Star cement has proposed to carry out mining of limestone at 42.051 hectares of land in Brishyrnot, for manufacturing of clinker. 

In a petition to the member secretary of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, the association of six villages has also demanded the board to revoke the public hearing and to deny permission to the cement company to expand its mine at Brishyrnot and other parts of the district. 

Talang said the objection is on the ground that the proposed project site is a forest area near the Narpuh wildlife sanctuary and also near the Lukha River and allowing the Star cement to expand its mines will only caused more destruction to the environment.

Asked, secretary of the association Daiapherbha Lamare said the association will be compelled to file a petition before the Supreme Court if permission is granted to the cement company. 

“We will seek the direct intervention of the Apex court rather than approaching the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which is yet to even bring out its report on the inquiry conducted on the Lukha river, whose change in colour has become a common phenomena,” he said. 

He also said the Star cement will only give Rs 32 lakh to the Brishyrnot village while its project cost is Rs 16 crore adding last year its turnover was at Rs 400 crore but failed to implement 2 per cent corporate social responsibility (which is supposed to be at Rs 8 crore). 

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.   

“The chief minister is only talking about the need to protect the environment and promote tourism in Shillong but seems to be in favour of destroying the environment in other parts of the state,” he further alleged. 

Not disagreeing with the MSPCB’s report that the pollution of Lukha river was due to coal mining, the secretary said, “We accept this report because the cement factories are using coal (as fuel) and they discharge their wastes directly to the river.” 

Headman of Kuliang village Min Lamare said the Lukha river in recent years has to bear the brunt of indiscriminate and unprotected industrialization where it has turn blue in colour leading to the dead of many aquatic lives especially fish.

He said the river was once a upon a time a life giver but now is unfit for drinking as its water have become highly acidic. “I doubt that our grand children will ever be able to drink or consume fish from this river,” Min lamented. 

It was also informed that the proposed project is also located approximately 500 meters away from the Lunar river, which intersect with the Lukha river. 

On the other hand, the adviser of the association Rinimon Shylla said the project if allowed will to a great extent affect the Kotsati-Umlawan cave, which is adjacent to Brishyrnot. According to him, the water from this cave also flows to the already polluted Lukha river.