Editor,
The headline page on U Nongsain Hima (a local Khasi paper) dated 16th June 2021 had two very contradictory reports that we, who daily follow the events are simply stunned. The first read “Star Cement obtains environment clearance to go ahead with mining of limestone at Brishyrnot”. Then down the page, “Government of Meghalaya has not at all been informed of the action of the Centre”.
Reading through the first caption explains in detail the 2.507 million tons of lime and 0.217 million tons of shale both to be extracted from an area of 42.051 hectare. Out of the above mentioned area, Star cement is entitled to extract 23.557 hectare. The area sizes mentioned are confusing by themselves and it poses a question to be answered.
Coming to the statement of the Chief Minister in which he said he was never at all briefed on this, and this was what was conveyed to the Khasi newspaper, “We, from the government had sent a report to the government on the matter of the public hearings and on the strength of those for and against the mining and we had left the matter to the discretion of the Centre.”
It should be mentioned that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had vehemently opposed the proposal of the Star Cement to go ahead with plundering into the eco-sensitive zone in which this Star Cement in the process will act against the Wild Life Reserve Forest Act as it will devastate 8.2 Km into the ring of the eco-sensitive zone of 10.0Km.
The TUR (Thma U Rangli U Juki) which in English translates ‘The War Of The Poor and The Have Nots’ spearheading the protest against the sinister ploy of the cement company, had on three public hearings (the only three) nullified the hearing despite the support of the Power Minister and the bureaucrats hell bent to serve the Star Cement’s interest.
What else could one with sound mind and conviction draw from the above? Let us learn from history. The Supreme Court in February 2019 had announced the verdict of eviction of 11.8 lakhs of forest dwellers following the petition by animal lovers usually coined ‘the armchair environmentalists’. Surprisingly, by the Forest Rights Act of 2006, the Supreme Court had to revoke the verdict in September 2019. In a time frame of six months the animal lovers were humbled with sounding defeat.
The function of this environment clearance has to be carefully examined as their clearance on the go ahead construction of the Central Vista is under cloud. After the two judges decided in favour of the go ahead with two judges to one, all eyes rested upon the EC to stop the construction. But sadly the environmental clearance was given. When the lone judge who decided against pollution of the place of work, they blatantly replied, “We will have a constant spraying of water.” Full stop.
On many occasions for example the plan to penetrate forest with highways or clearance of forest for industries etc, what we see is the environment is at the receiving end and unless this is completely turned around the forest dwellers, the trees and plants and animals will one day be overwhelmed with tinseled civilisation and the worst is yet to come.
