Jowai, Mar 19: Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat today expressed regret over past decisions regarding the granting of NOCs to cement companies.
Shiwat made a candid admission while replying to a motion during the ongoing budget session of the district council. He stated there has been an oversight by the district council as far back as the year 2000.
The motion to discuss the controversial NOC granted to the Shree Cement for setting up a plant at Daistong village in East Jaintia Hills was brought by Jowai North MDC Awhai Andrew Shullai.
Shiwat acknowledged that support of local residents of Daistong, Elaka Nongkhlieh and even the government was an influencing factor in granting the NOC to Shree Cement. Community leaders believe that cement plants bring substantial economic benefits to the region, including job creation and infrastructure development.
The CEM informed that the district council has sent the Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (Trading by Non-Tribal) (Amendment) Rules, 2023, to the state government and waiting the assent of the Governor. He said the council’s plan to implement monitoring gates for tax collection, which seeks to streamline revenue generation from ongoing industrial activities, was met with considerable opposition from local villages.
The emergence of cement plants in the Jaintia Hills region has sparked significant environmental and social concerns among local communities and environmentalists alike. Shullai pointed out these concerns, highlighting the detrimental impacts that cement companies can have on local ecosystems.
He said the establishment of eight new cement companies since 2000 underlines a trend that poses serious threats to the already fragile environment.
