Shillong, May 18:Villagers, supported by the pressure groups Jaintia National Council (JNC) and Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), on Monday protested in the city against the plan of Shree Cements Ltd to set up a cement plant in East Jaintia Hills.
The people are resisting the plan by citing the environment and heritage issues, .besides irregularities in granting permission.
They are opposing a public hearing scheduled on May 22 at Daistong village.
JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh told reporters that last year, the people from the village of Daistong could not participate in the public hearing, and the vested interests stopped the NGOs tp take part.
The pressure groups said the company violated the Land Transfer Act and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).
The march began from Malki ground with the intention of proceeding towards the Secretariatbbut was stopped outside the State Central Library.
There are concerns over livelihood and heritage issues.
“There are many tourist spots in that area. There is a cave that connects to our history. When we had a war with the British in 1861-62, our freedom fighter Kiang Nangbah hid inside that cave. If the mining by the company is allowed, all those caves will be destroyed, and the river Lytein will be destroyed, plus there are many paddy fields in the surrounding area. So agricultural land will also be destroyed, and the livelihood of the people will be affected”, Lyngdoh said.
According to Lyngdoh, the EIA is very ‘comical’. “Because before any company could conduct a public hearing, it should receive terms of reference from the state government. But what happened in this EIA of Shree Cement is that it is clearly stated that the terms of reference have been approved by the SEIAA and SEAC of the Gujarat government. So this is purely illegal”, he added.
