Shillong, May 19: Members of the Jaintia National Council (JNC) and Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), along with residents from East Jaintia Hills, staged a protest march in Shillong on Monday against the proposed limestone mining project of Shree Cement Limited at Daistong, alleging environmental violations and irregularities in the public hearing process.
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| Members of the Jaintia National Council (JNC), Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) and local residents stage a protest march in Shillong against the proposed Shree Cement limestone mining project and the May 22 public hearing. |
The protesters began their march from Malki Ground with plans to proceed towards the Meghalaya Secretariat to demand cancellation of the public hearing scheduled for May 22. However, police personnel and district authorities stopped the protesters at the IGP point in Mawbynna, preventing them from moving further.
Speaking during the protest, JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh alleged that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted for the project contained misleading information and violated provisions of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act.
Lyngdoh claimed the company had obtained terms of reference from authorities in Gujarat despite planning to operate the mining project in Meghalaya, calling the process “purely illegal.” He also alleged that local residents and NGOs were obstructed during an earlier public hearing linked to the project.
The JNC leader further accused the Meghalaya government of supporting the proposed mining project and warned that the agitation would now be directed against the state government itself.
“We are against these steps taken by the government because without the consent of the government, no company can set up their plant in Meghalaya,” Lyngdoh said.
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JSU general secretary Neikee Mukhim also demanded immediate cancellation of the public hearing, alleging that the government was attempting to suppress opposition to the project.
Mukhim alleged violations of tribal land laws, claiming that land in the area was being transferred to non-tribal individuals in violation of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act and Sixth Schedule protections. He further warned that attempts to forcibly conduct the public hearing could trigger stronger protests.
The protesters also raised concerns over the possible environmental impact of limestone mining in the region, claiming that caves linked to the history of freedom fighter Kiang Nangbah, local rivers, paddy fields and agricultural land could be damaged if mining activities proceed.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has scheduled the public hearing for the proposed limestone mining project at Lum Syrman on May 22.
