The East Jaiñtia National Council (EJNC) has strongly opposed the public hearing to be conducted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) scheduled at Khliehriat for granting permission to Star Cement for expansion of limestone mining project at Brichyrnot.
It may be noted here that there have been two previous attempts to hold public hearings at Brichyrnot area under Narpuh Elaka on this contentious issue which did not make any headway.
Taking exception to a decision that the public hearing will now be held at the premises of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Khliehriat on November 21, the EJNC said that the public hearing should be held at Brichyrnot where the project of the company will take off.
The Star Cement Company has proposed to expand limestone mining from 9 metric tonnes to 20 metric tonnes per day, at 42.051 hectares of land in Brichyrnot.
Members of the EJNC led by its President Sambormi Lyngdoh today met East Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner, E. Kharmalki and submitted a petition against holding the public hearing at Khliehriat.
Referring to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006 the EJNC said that the public hearing should be held in the place where the mine will be set up.
The organisation has asked the Deputy Commissioner to make the venue change by October 31.
