The environment coordination committee (ECC) of Elaka Sutnga has warned the government against legalising coke plants in the area.
“If the government tries to legalise these coke plants, the consequences will be disastrous in Elaka Sutnga,” the committee’s legal adviser Reading War said.
Any move to give sanction to these operations would mean that the people will have to protest vigorously once again, he added.
War also called on those who have been negatively affected by the coke plants to come forward and claim compensation, which, he opined, the State Pollution Control Board should calculate while taking into account the cost for restoration of the environment and penalties.
There are 29 coke units that have been issued with ‘refusal of consent’ on various grounds by the pollution control board. Yet, others continue to operate and War called on the officials to spend enough time in places such as Soo Kilo, Umpleng and Umtyra to get a real sense of the damage these operations cause.
