The environment coordination committee of Elaka Sutnga in East Jaintia Hills today submitted a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of the district to request immediate action to stop the operation of illegal coke plants.
Convener of the committee, Rieweh Kupar Sutnga, said that in the past few months the illegal construction and operation of coke plants have ballooned in Elaka Sutnga, which is a matter of grave concern to the general public.
Stating that the waste and toxic emissions from the factories without proper treatment prior to their release is hazardous to the health of the general population, he said, “As per the RTI request from MSPCB (Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board) dated March 17, 2021, only five coke plants in East Jaintia Hills have obtained CTO (consent to operate) and the rest are operating without CTO.”
According to the same RTI, only 12 coke plants out of 36 have been granted consent to establish (CTE).
“We are deeply concerned about the potential short-term and long-term impact of the coke factories on the emission of dangerous greenhouse gases during the process of burning and combustion of the coal, like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, smoke particles and many more. The residents around different villages are already having symptoms and experiences like headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, confusion, and irritability,” he said.
Stating that continuous exposure can lead to respiratory tract infection, vomiting, loss of consciousness, brain damage, heart irregularity, breathing difficulty, muscle weakness, abortion, and even death, he said that a high concentration of carbon monoxide kills in less than five minutes and there would be no question of doubt left with the huge number of coke plants operating at the same time within the inhabitation area flouting all norms and criteria.
Water bodies and farms have been grievously damaged by the waste emitted by these plants, he added.
