A team of the Assembly’s environmental committee led by its chairman, Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla, together with government officials today visited mining sites of coal companies and also inspected coke plants and monitored their performance in terms of environmental protection.
At the meeting held at Star Cement, the committee also found through the presentations of the seven cement companies that, although there are many jobs, they do not boost the local economy much and there is also a shortage of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the field of environmental protection.
The committee urged the factory owners to take action to increase their activities or programmes in terms of environmental protection measures and also to preserve the environment.
Shylla said that, during the inspection of the companies, he found that most of the employees are non-indigenous and locals are very few.
“They should give more jobs to people of the state, especially the people from the area,” Shylla said. “As a resident of the area, I want to see that there will be many workers from the area to work in these companies, because when I enter the factories I feel like I’m in Assam or other states not Meghalaya. I request the factory owners to think of the state residents in the recruitment process.”
He also directed the relevant government agencies, such as the Pollution Control Board, to submit a report on the number of coke plants in Jaintia Hills.
Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sun urged the coke factories to use more equipment or machines to protect the air from pollution. Regarding the environment, Sohtun said that the committee has helped the companies but it is not for them to damage the environment and it should be protected.
“We have received presentations that CSR projects have done well for the society in many ways but we need to also to take action to protect the environment, so that it does not affect the people as well as those working inside the companies. We have seen that there are mines and how the coal is mined and I would like to direct the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and the Forest Department to take action to find out the extent of the impact and also to create mechanisms and regulations regarding the mining and environmental protection.”
The day commenced with a meeting at Khliehriat Circuit House, followed by inspections of Jaintia Coke Pvt Ltd at Shiehruphi, Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd at Thangskai and Star Cement at Lumshnong, all located in East Jaintia Hills.
Shylla also requested the ambient air quality report for December, as the data provided to the committee so far covers only the past few months, which were during the monsoon season. He also addressed the importance of worker safety.
Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem raised concerns about air quality, calling for regular third-party monitoring and requested the latest reports from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. He also stressed the importance of consistent water sprinkling practices and regular plantation efforts, not just on World Environment Day, to ensure that planted trees continue to thrive.
Sohtun also raised concerns about quarrying practices, specifically limestone extraction, and urged relevant departments to establish regulations to prevent further environmental impact. He recommended implementing clear rules for sustainable quarrying.
Sutnga Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla echoed these concerns and urged companies to take environmental restoration seriously. “This is a wake-up call for us, especially regarding the environment. I want to request all companies and small limestone miners to plant trees in the areas where they have mined. We must compensate the environment and society. If we cut down trees, we must also plant new ones to restore the balance,” she said.
