The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has granted 16 coke plants with the consent to establish (CTE) in East Jaintia Hills district.
This was stated by the Environment Coordination Committee (ECC) of Elaka Sutnga following information gathered through the Right to Information.
According to the committee, there are about 31 coke plans which have been considered illegal and their applications for consent have been cancelled by the board on January 6, 2022. While cases against them are pending in the court, the MSPCB has recently issued CTEs to 16 coke plants.
These are North East Coke industries, Magic Coke second Chimney, MM Minerals, Unique Coke industry second chimney, Presidium Breez, Ioanis Industries Pvt Second Chimney, Mega Coke Second Chimney, Umthe Carbon, Jaintia Coke industries Second Chimney, SD Coke industries, Vaishnu Private Ltd, Malang Coke Industries, Barbarik Coke Industries, Royalborn Associate Coke, Westland Coke and SS Coke.
Stating that illegal coke oven plants in the district that were shut down have again started operating, the committee said its members led by president Never Lamurong had on December 12, 2024 visited Barbarik Coke in Nongjri under Elaka Sutnga and found that the plant was under repair and was in the process to operate.
“We are surprised to learn that several coke plants which were once considered illegal with their applications for consent cancelled, are being legalised by the MSPCB recently,” the committee said.
The committee has demanded the chief minister to reply on the illegality and stop giving away licences immediately or it will move the National Green Tribunal for contempt.
“With this harsh attitude of the government towards the people of the district, it will not be far that East Jaintia Hills will be the next Byrnihat,” the ECC said, adding they fear that legalising coke plants would make Elaka Sutnga uninhabitable.
“Despite the Hon’ble Meghalaya High Court and Hon’ble NGT directive to frame policy, the state is granting licenses to illegal plants. We the people are helpless,” the committee added.
It may be mentioned that altogether there are 34 illegal coke plants in East Jaiñtia Hills district, out of which five have been razed in 2023 as per the Meghalaya High Court order in December 2022.
Meanwhile, MSPCB Member Secretary Dr GH Chyrmang said that he had to look at the files but the decision was in compliance with SC order.
“There was a recent development in the Supreme Court, in the Druk Fuels limited vs State of Meghalaya, but I will still need to check details, there was an order which has given direction whichever coke units which are complying with norms they need to be regularised within specific timeframe so action was in compliance to the honourable SC order,” Chyrmang stated.
