Shillong, June 21: Joining in the chorus of villagers and various NGOs of the state in opposing the clearance given to Star Cement for expansion of its limestone mining project at Brishyrnot in East Jaintia Hills district, PDF leader and State cabinet minister, Hamletson Dohling on Monday wrote to Union Minister of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar for withdrawal of the environmental clearance to the cement company.

In his letter, Dohling wrote: “I request you to kindly reconsider withdrawing the said environmental clearance for the welfare of the people of the area and East Jaintia Hills district as a whole.”

He apprised the Union Minister that the villagers and various NGOs of the state have opposed the clearance for the expansion of the said project since it will affect the environment and pollute the Lukha River and also affect the Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary located adjacent to the proposed mining area.

Dohling currently looks after the departments of the Community & Rural Development, Information Technology & Communication, Soil and Water Conservation.

He said the issuance of environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Impact Assessment Division, Government of India was despite stiff opposition from villagers and NGOs in the public hearings held on three occasions.

“It seems that the environmental clearance has been issued based only on the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills recommendation, by considering exempting the said project from the requirement of the public hearing as a part of public consultation and written submissions only,” Dohling said.