Shillong, Jul 28: The East Jaintia Hills unit of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has filed a formal objection with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) against the proposed public hearing for the limestone mining project of Shree Cement at Lum Syrman, calling it an “imminent, severe and irreversible threat” to the Litein River and the region’s environment.
In its letter to the MSPCB, the KSU’s local environment cell said the mine boundary directly abuts the Litein River and the buffer zone overlaps the river and adjoining agricultural lands, leaving “no room for error.”
The union stated that the Litein River is one of the last clean and ecologically vibrant rivers in East Jaintia Hills. It sustains biodiversity, irrigates chemical-free paddy fields and supports numerous communities, the pressure group added.
Citing the project’s own environment impact assessment report, the KSU said water bodies, including the Litein River, will be adversely impacted. The union alleged risks of direct pollution discharge, runoff contamination, heavy siltation and the likelihood of the river being used as a drainage channel for mine effluent.
The KSU demanded a non-negotiable minimum buffer zone of 1km from the riverbank, failing which it said the project is “environmentally untenable and must be rejected.”
The project claims a water requirement of 150 KLD to be met entirely by private tankers. KSU termed this “unrealistic” and expressed apprehension that the Litein River would be directly exploited and groundwater over-extracted without any sustainable management plan. The union also pointed to the “conspicuous absence of mandatory rainwater harvesting measures.”
The union also alleged the presence of ecologically sensitive caves like Krem Rynge was downplayed.
Further, KSU claimed the 217.394 hectare lease falls under Category A under the EIA Notification 2006 and requires appraisal by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. However, it said the project was wrongly categorised as Category B1 and clearance was sought from the Gujarat Environment Impact Assessment Authority, which it called “jurisdictionally incorrect.”
Satellite imagery at page 136 showing “dense forest cover” also contradicts the TOR description of the area as barren, the union added.
KSU said 49.78 per cent of the project area is under forest cover and the area is described in the EIA as a community-managed sacred grove. The union noted 40 species of medicinal plants and protected wildlife including Capped Langur, Leopard, Great Pied Hornbill and Himalayan Vulture. Other species likely present include Hoolock Gibbon, Assamese Macaque, Marbled Cat and Himalayan Black Bear.
The EIA itself admits mining will cause habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, KSU said.
In addition, paddy cultivation nearby will be affected and the risk of respiratory disease through dust produced by the project will increase, it added.
The KSU also questioned why the MSPCB should schedule the public hearing for 8am, a time when local residents who are farmers may be unable to get away from their work.
The union warned that if the board proceeds, it will initiate legal proceedings before the National Green Tribunal and the High Court of Meghalaya for “dereliction of statutory duty.”
