Shillong, Sep 14: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) has asked the state environment authorities to immediately stop all work on the environmental clearance for Shree Cement’s Lum Syrman limestone project.
In a letter to the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), JNC President Sambormi Lyngdoh said there is already a case pending in the Meghalaya High Court about the project, and the state government has formed a fact-finding team and asked to maintain status quo.
He said it is not right to continue with the environmental clearance when the government inquiry and court case are still pending. “It would be administratively prudent and procedurally appropriate to avoid taking any substantive step capable of materially advancing the environmental approval process before the relevant issues are examined,” Lyngdoh wrote.
“We respectfully request to immediately keep in abeyance all further processing, appraisal and decision-making concerning the EC proposal,” the letter said.
JNC also warned that it reserves the right to go to court if the clearance process continues despite the pending inquiry and case.
