Shillong, Sep 7: All activities of Shree Cement at Lum Syrman in Elaka Nongkhlieh, East Jaintia Hills, will remain frozen till an independent probe is completed, the Meghalaya government told the High Court on Monday.
The submission was made in an affidavit by Home Commissioner & Secretary Rosetta Mary Kurbah before a division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, hearing a PIL filed by Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) challenging the environmental public hearing.
The government said it decided at an August 26 meeting, attended by Khasi Students Union (KSU) representatives, to constitute a fact-finding committee headed by a senior officer to examine environmental, social, legal and criminal aspects to facilitate an informed decision. Police and district administration have been directed to maintain peace, with a team from East Jaintia Hills to assist the panel.
However, the JSU stated that the halt is not a judicial stay by the court, but a binding commitment made by the state itself in its affidavit.
The JSU has filed a comprehensive affidavit with photographs, video clips and audio transcripts on pen drive, which the court took on record.
The union alleged that PWD roads at Lad Tongseng at 21st km and Mamkhoosngi at Saipung at 40th km were deliberately excavated by earthmovers to block opposing stakeholders from reaching the hearing venue. Due to the trench at Lad Tongseng, a pregnant woman from Nongkhlieh, Riniwanki Sukhlain, who was in active labour, was trapped and had to be shifted between vehicles across the damaged stretch to reach hospital.
It further alleged that its emergency ambulance ML04-D-2910, on a humanitarian mission near Tongseng, was ambushed by 15 to 20-armed persons who shattered its windshield and grievously injured driver Rapbor Mukhim, with stones and catapults.
JSU stated it has submitted audio recordings of pleas made to the Deputy Superintendent of Police for escort and safe passage, but no help came and no arrests have been made so far.
Additional Advocate General T Yangi B sought time to examine the fresh material.
The matter will be heard next on September 29.
JNC seeks clarity on status quo
The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has asked Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to clearly define the status quo on Shree Cement’s Lum Syrman limestone project.
In a memorandum submitted on Monday, JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh said the 217-hectare project in East Jaintia Hills proposes 6 MTPA limestone mining. The government on August 26 had ordered a fact-finding inquiry and said no work should go ahead, after concerns over public hearing.
JNC said with the matter also in the High Court, different departments should not interpret status quo differently and allow clearances to move ahead.
The council is not asking government to approve or reject the project now. It only wants government to clarify if status quo covers all approvals like environment clearance and consent, and to inform SEAC, SEIAA, MSPCB and mining officials to follow it uniformly.
It also sought that all records including EIA, public hearing papers and consent files be kept safe, and that papers for Rs 1,08,75,000 paid to MSPCB including demand note and calculation be preserved for verification.
JNC said its plea is for fair process and transparency, and for proper implementation of government’s own status quo order till inquiry is over.
