Shillong, June 15: Amid protest, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has accorded environmental clearance for the expansion of the limestone mining project of Star Cement at Brishyrnot village in East Jaintia Hills district.
This was stated in a public notice issued by Star Cement Meghalaya Limited.
It read, “This is to inform the public that the Star Cement Meghalaya Limited…has been accorded environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi for its mining lease area of 42.051 Ha located at Brishyrnot village…with production capacity of 2.507 Million TPA of limestone and production capacity of 0.217 Million TPA of shale…”
It may be mentioned that the district administration and the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board had to cancel the public hearings on two occasions after stiff opposition from several quarters including NGOs and 6 Shnong Wah Lukha Association against the expansion project.
The protests were held on the grounds that the expansion project of the Star Cement is located near the Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary and Wah Lukha, a major river.
When asked for comments on the issue, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that the state government had in fact written to the Centre that the public hearings for the expansion project could not be held because of public opposition.
“There was report of all land owners, how many people supported and how many are against it – so all these reports we have sent in detail of every meeting that was taking place and we have left the matter to the central government to decide as it is something beyond and we have tried our best,” he said.
“…I don’t know what this particular thing what government of India has done but we have given the report as was mandated to be given to government of India and based on that we have asked government of India to take necessary action as per their knowledge and as per the rules,” Sangma stated.
At least 7 police personnel including women were injured when a protest by NGOs against holding of the public hearing at the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Khliehriat turned violent on November 21, last year.
