The East Jaiñtia National Council (EJNC) has decided to hold a sit-in demonstration to protest the clearance certificate issued to the Star Cement for the Brichyrnot limestone mining proposal.
The protest will be held near the East Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner’s office on July 2 from 11 am to 2 pm EJNC president, Sambormi Lyngdoh informed. He said due to COVID-19, only members of the central executive committee will take part in the protest.
Recently, the ENJC has written to the Chief Secretary and demanded immediate cancellation of the environmental clearance.
The Chief Minister on the other hand said that the clearance came from the Centre not the state, but it later emerged that the state pollution control board (MSPCB) had written to the Centre in favour of the project even though no public hearing could be held on the project because of strident local opposition.
Public hearings were called off on three separate occasions because locals and pressure groups opposed their holding. However, some locals were in favour of the project and their support was used in gaining the clearance.
