SHILLONG, NOV 28: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has lodged a strong protest against the proposed Shree Cement Project in Daistong village, East Jaintia Hills District, citing an alleged illegal land transfer from a tribal landowner to a non-tribal individual, Bharat Sharma.
“The transaction violates the Meghalaya Transfer of Land Regulation Act, 1971, and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (ADC) rules,” said JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh on Friday.
“The EIA report lacks essential documents, including ADC approval and mutation records, rendering the land deal void ab initio.”
The JNC has demanded a halt to the public hearing scheduled for December 2025, citing breaches of the Meghalaya State Investment Promotion Facilitation Act (MIIPA) 2024 and the EIA Notification, 2006.
“The MSPCB is derelict in its duty by proceeding without scrutinizing land ownership, potentially enabling corporate overreach at the expense of tribal rights under Article 371B of the Constitution,” Lyngdoh said.
The JNC has warned of civil unrest if the project advances without resolving these issues and has met with the Deputy Commissioner, who has assured them of taking the matter seriously.
“We demand an immediate inquiry into the land chain of title, authenticity of documents, and directives to MSPCB and State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to halt the public hearing,” Lyngdoh said.
The JNC has also dismissed Shree Cement’s employment promises as unreliable, citing local skill gaps and the absence of training plans.
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