To call Meghalaya “the cancer capital” of the country because of industrial growth would be a misnomer, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said while stating that there are various factors responsible for the disease.
Replying to a Zero Hour notice moved by UDP MLA Nujorki Sungoh on a news report published in Highland Post under the headline, ‘Nongsning, Umrasong hold protest rally against coke oven plants’, the Chief Minister said such a term is farfetched.
Sungoh said that it was painful to see how green forests are turning to grey patches of land. He stated that he would not be surprised if the number of health cases would be related to bronchial disease followed by cancer. “No wonder we are referred to as the cancer capital,” he stated.
Sangma said that to out rightly say that everything that is being done from industrial development point of view is bad for the state, then they will not be able to achieve the economic growth that they desire and job creations will be affected.
The Chief Minister said the government is concerned about the environment and that they have always tried to maintain a very fine balance between ecology and economy.
“The member has mentioned in a very dramatic way saying that there are different health concerns. Yes, it is part of the different economic activities that could lead to this kind of health hazard and it is a fact throughout the world. But, indicating that because of the industrial development work, we are the cancer capital in the country would again be a very farfetched kind of linkage,” he said.
He further said there are many other factors that cause cancer, like our food habits, and genetic aspects.
Referring to the news item, Sungoh said that five coke plants which were earlier denied license by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) were later granted license and Consent to Establish (CTE). Sungoh added that the local residents, out of fear of negative impact on water, land and other aspects protested.
The five coke oven plants are MM Minerals, Unique Industry (Second Chimney), Presidium Breez, Magic Coke and Ioanis Industries Private Limited (Second Chimney).
According to Sungoh, two units MM Minerals and Presidium Breez have paid their compensation to MSPCB which was Rs 10,000 each. However, Magic Coke out of Rs 19,90,000 fine they have paid only Rs 3,70,000. “I was surprised to hear that all the cases against these five coke oven plants were withdrawn by the MSPCB,” he said.
He pointed out that there are almost 19 coke plants that are operational in East Jaintia Hills District alone. He further urged the government to revoke all the CTE that was issued to those units that had flouted the rules.
Furthermore, he urged the government to come up with a policy for coke plants as directed by the High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) by taking into account the safety and security of the citizens living near the plants.
He added that the coke plants that are operating at night are not using filters. “This process is against the condition provided by MSPCB and consequences are that residents of nearby villages of the coke plants are facing breathing difficulties,” Sungoh said.
Therefore he urged the govt, a check must be done and ensure that these existing legal coke plants should install filters while operating.
On Presidium Breeze, the Chief Minister replied that the member Secretary accompanied by environmental engineers carried out an inspection on February 16, 2024 to ascertain the veracity of the complaint.
“They found that certain conditions that were laid in the CTE were flouted and there were certain construction sites, materials being dumped in different locations and even in the water source as was mentioned in the news article and hence, based on that they issued a show cause notice on February 19. They were asked to stop all establishment and construction activities with the direction to clear all the haphazardly dumped construction waste like earth and boulder etc,” the Chief Minister said.
He said procedures to grant CTE was duly followed. “There are norms that are followed. So there’s no question of anybody flouting norms and if they do flout norms then necessary actions are there as per the law,” Sangma said.
He assured that he will personally examine all these applications and to call a meeting at the chief minister’s level of the pollution board and will go through each of these points that have been raised.
