The Khasi Jaiñtia National Union (KJNU) has served a 10-day ultimatum to the East Jaiñtia Hills Deputy Commissioner, demanding the cancellation of a public hearing scheduled for November 21 on the subject of a limestone and shale mining project.
This is the third time that the district administration has tried to hold a public hearing on the proposed project, to be carried out by Star Cement, after earlier meetings in October last year and January this year were cancelled “due to stern opposition” by the general public.
The Star Cement Company has proposed to expand limestone mining from 9 metric tonnes to 20 metric tonnes per day, at 42.051 hectares of land in Brichyrnot village, East Jaiñtia Hills.
The KJNU also questioned what was behind the intention of holding the hearing at the DC’s office in Khliehriat rather than at the mining site.
“How can the DC allow the public hearing in the office premises when he knows that this project is strongly opposed by all the people in the area? I also want to know how much money Star Cement has given the DC that he has even thought about allowing the public hearing to be conducted at the DC office premises,” KJNU President Niman Shadap said today, adding that it is illogical to hold such a meeting during the Covid-19 pandemic.
