Editor,
My attention was drawn to “coke transportation amid pandemic” that appeared in your daily on the first page of May 4, 2021. In fact as of now there are nearly 38-40 coke factories set up in Shallang area which is the highest in the state.
Majority of these are illegally set up there violating environmental laws and the air, water pollution provisions. In fact the whole area of Shallang, Nongdaju, Umdang, Swangre, Darbot, Kyllon Mathei, 5-6 km, Nonglamper, Dorrengre, Songsak and many other villages within 10-15 km radius of Shallang-Kyllon Mathei . When coal is burnt in the furnaces of the factories, the toxic smoke emitted envelopes the environment of the whole area. The local people of this belt have lodged complaints to the MSPCB, the D.C, KHADC and the Syiem of Nongstoiñ but nothing was done till date.
Complaint was also lodged with the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya but nothing has come out. As could be understood, the multiplicity of the coke factories in the area is because of the nexus of the powerful politicians with the industrialists mostly from outside. The coke factories have been set up here in quick succession because of abundance of raw material (coal) within proximity, availability of cheap labour, good transport network, easy permits and cheap or free taxes (royalty).
The reply of the government in the recent Assembly on the queries of the opposition on the coke issue in Shallang was not revealing because those who raised questions have done very little homework. Most of the hard facts were not exposed.
If the Government allows coke factories to flourish in Meghalaya our state will become an uninhabitable place.
Philip Marwein,
Shillong.
