Despite strong protest from local villagers, the Shangpung Elaka in West Jaintia Hills has granted no-objection certificate (NOC) to a senior NPP leader Nidamon Chulet to set up of a coke factory in the village.
The coke factory by the name of North East Carbon Industries will be set up at a place known as Kai-Um under Mynkrem village.
The NOC was issued by Shangpung Elaka chairman C Langbang and secretary R Rabon on March 6.
It may be noted that Chullet is the working president of NPP West Jaintia Hills.
Under the terms and conditions, North East Carbon Industries owned by Chullet would have to make one-time payment Rs 1 lakh as NOC fee to the Dorbar Shangpung Elaka, Rs 50,000 per year as royalty which will be increased by 25 per cent every three year, besides 100 per cent employment to local villagers in jobs that they are eligible.
It may be mentioned that villagers of Mynkrem during a gathering held on March 2 had expressed their strong opposition to the move to set up the coke plant.
According to the villagers, presence of such a coke factory would pose danger to their health and cause air and water pollution besides ruining their agriculture.
They also said that authorities should bring projects which will have no negative impact on health and environment.
The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) and Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) from Shangpung area have also extended support to the villagers.
The two students’ bodies pointed out that the smoke from the coke factory would cause diseases while wastes from the factory would contaminate the water.
