Shillong, Nov 26: A delegation led by the Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Dr Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur on Friday sought the intervention of the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to speed up the clearances for exporting limestone to a cement company in Bangladesh.

“Members of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission led by the Assistant High Commissioner Dr. Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur called on me today. Prospects of border trade with the neighbouring country were discussed today,” Sangma had tweeted after the meeting.

Members of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission led by the Assistant High Commissioner Dr. Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur called on me today. Prospects of border trade with the neighbouring country were discussed today.@PiyushGoyal @CimGOI pic.twitter.com/9ZORyREwn3

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) November 26, 2021

Speaking to reporters, Dr Monsur informed that the Komorrah Limestone Mining Co Ltd (KLMC) had suddenly stopped supplying limestone to Bangladesh from last year.

“We need to follow some process (and get) some clearances from a few departments. As per discussion with the chief minister, we understood that it will be cleared very soon and Bangladesh will be taking limestone from Meghalaya for our Chhatak Cement Factory Ltd,” he said.

The Assistant High Commissioner further informed that they have to renew the lease agreement with the concerned village authority and for that they have to obtain clearances from the forest and environment department.

“The agreement has to be renewed with the sordar of the village. That is the issue actually. It was okay until 2020, so they have to renew their agreement and they have remapped the land area on which they will be excavating. That is the issue,” he said.

“Earlier, they were excavating on 40 hectares of land. Now as per the new plant they will try to restrict within 30 hectares of land and therefore, there will be no problem…so that they will be able to obtain clearance from all the departments and eventually it will be done.

As per discussion if we follow the process, it will be resolved,” he said.

According to him, the new plant will require 2,500 metric tonnes per day as its production capacity will be enhanced.

Bangladesh joint secretary Dr Nasim Ahmed informed that exporting of limestone to Bangladesh was stopped for the past many months since March, last year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

He however said that the meeting was a fruitful one and that the Chief Minister along with the Chief Secretary RV Suchiang had assured the delegation to look into the matter shortly.

“The process of getting clearances from the different departments for the KLMC will be expedited (so that it) will be able to start exporting limestone to Chhatak Cement Factory Ltd very soon. (We hope) the cement factory will also be able to start producing cement very shortly,” he said.