Shillong, April 3: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has assured to conduct a spot inspection at Thlakaru in East Jaintia Hills following a complaint filed by the Wapungksur dorbar shnong against the proposed setting up of a coke plant in a forest area under its jurisdiction.

The assurance was given by the Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) CH Chyrmang to a delegation of the Wapungskur dorbar shnong led by its headman Postling Dkhar during a meeting held on Thursday.

“We have expressed our strong opposition against the proposed setting up of the coke plant and the MSPCB has assured to conduct a spot inspection before taking a decision on whether to revoke the CoE. They will fix a date and let us know in the coming days,” Dkhar told reporters after the meeting.

“When asked if they had notice the forest area, the board officials claimed that they got a clearance from the District Forest Officer (DFO) that it was a non-forested land. The reply came as a surprise to us because had they conducted a spot inspection, they would have notice the reserved forest of the dorbar shnong,” he said.

Dkhar further maintained that the dorbar shnong is determined not to allow others to interfere in its jurisdiction and said, “Even if we are poor, we want an environment that will be healthy for our people. We don’t need money because we don’t want to compromise the health and well being of our people. We are all aware the coming of these coke plants will only pollute the environment. Therefore, we will continue to protect and preserve the reserved forest of the village.”

“We will not allow setting up of any coke plant. If they dare try to bulldoze, the Dolloi of Jowai and headman of Mookhep should be ready to take full responsibility of the consequences,” he warned.

Further, the headman of Wapungskur said the Dolloi of Jowai Elaka for failing to inform the dorbar shnong about his decision to issue NOC for setting up of the coke plant.

“He (Dolloi) should have informed us about such decision. We are part of the Jowai Elaka and we have the right to know. If he no longer want us to be part of the Elaka, we will gladly come out. Furthermore, if he so require a coke plant, let him set up in his own backyard or in Jowai,” he stated.

“Therefore, we will meet the Dolloi of Jowai tomorrow to demand him that he should cancel the NOC within three days. At the same time, we also demand the headman of Mookhep to cancel the NOC issued by him because he should think about the people of the area,” Dkhar said adding “If they can confine the air pollution from these coke plants within their own jurisdiction is okay but if it affecting us we will not allow. Therefore, we will continue to protest.”

Dkhar also pointed out that the granting of the CoE was done without conducting any public hearing and said, “we send a clear message that we will not allow to set up any coke factory within our jurisdiction.

According to him, the Wapungskur dorbar shnong has rejected many requests to issue NOC for setting up of coke plants under its jurisdiction.

He also emphasized the need to conduct a thorough study on a coke plant located at Mookhep and the alleged untimely deaths of children in the area.

Meanwhile, MSPCB member secretary said the board had granted the CoE based on the NOC issued by concerned dorbar shnong of Mookhep.

“Without proper documents, we cannot proceed ahead,” he said. Chyrmang however refused to comment on the boundary issue between the two villages.

Also Read: Meghalaya forms panel to examine proposal of railway connectivity

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