The Jaintia Students Union (JSU) today said that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) had provided written approval to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change for environmental clearance for a controversial limestone quarry proposal.
Star Cement has proposed a new project on 42 hectares of land in Brishyrnot, close to the protected Narpuh Reserve Forest, in East Jaintia Hills. This would threaten rare flora and fauna and further worsen conditions in the already polluted Lukha River, critics said. Attempts to hold a public hearing on the subject have been foiled by strong protests by citizens and pressure groups on separate occasions.
Yesterday Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the environmental clearance was all granted by the central government and not the Meghalaya government.
Today, the JSU said it met with East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner E Kharmalki, who reportedly told the pressure group’s delegation that the MSPCB had paved the way for Star Cement to get the necessary clearance.
“We learned that it was the Member Secretary of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board who gave written approval for the environmental clearance to Star Cement,” the JSU said.
According to the pressure group, this Member Secretary sent a letter to New Delhi informing the Union Ministry that attempts to hold a public hearing had been foiled twice and thus recommended that this requirement be bypassed and that Star Cement receive clearance.
While it was the Centre which ultimately issued the clearance, the JSU accused Sangma of not being completely truthful with the public on the matter in his comments yesterday.
The JSU also questioned the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council’s silence on the issue and slammed the Brychyrnot Dorbar Chnong for being in favour of the project.
