Shillong, June 21: With a demand to halt the environmental clearance issued to Star Cement Meghalaya Ltd for expansion of its mining project at Brishyrnot in East Jaintia Hills district, the Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has also demanded the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government to come up with a white paper on the issuance of the clearance to the company in the first place.

In an open letter to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and all cabinet ministers submitted through the Health Minister AL Hek on Monday, HITO asked the government to come up with the white paper on the issue within this month.

“The state government should come up with a white paper on the issue within this month,” HITO president Donbok Dkhar told reporters here on Monday. He also asked the government not to provoke the peace loving people by such a decision which affects the environment and its surroundings.

He also slammed the district administration of East Jaintia Hills for its failure on the issue, stating that ‘nothing was done in accordance with rules’. “If the public hearings could not be held due to stiff opposition from the public, you still have other options like organizing a signature campaign which was not explored by the district administration,” he said.