Shillong, Oct 8: Meghalaya minister in-charge of Forest and Environment, James Sangma on Thursday informed that the Expert Technical Committee constituted to study emissions by Coke Plants in East Jaintia Hills and their impact on environment has had their first meeting two days back.

Sangma said the process has started but any kind of findings cannot be expected with one or two meetings. “We will have to wait and watch till they go into the terms of references, conduct the study and give us the necessary findings of the report,” he said.

Asked about the recent RTI findings by the Environment Coordination Committee (ECC) from Elaka Sutnga, that the plants are producing more than 25,000 MT of coke, Sangma denied the claims.

“Not aware of any RTI findings which would indicate that these coke plants have surpassed their load capacity. As far as the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) is concerned, they have been very clear that these plants that have been given permission, those are inspected and oven load is ascertained and based on that only permissions are granted,” stated Sangma.

Nonetheless, he said that will look into the claims.