The Narpuh Elaka Youth for Change, a newly established organisation in East Jaintia Hills, has raised objection to the proposed public hearing to be held on October 8 for the Star Cement to carry out a limestone and shale mining project in the Brishyrnot village.
According to the organisation, the proposed mining area of 65 hectares located close to the Lunar River by about 20-30 meters will threaten the environment.
“If mining is allowed in this area, it will be a threat to the environment because the Lunar River will dry up and the Lukha River which is about 500-600 meters away from this area will also suffer,” the organisation said in a statement.
It said that the mining will not only affect the rivers but the Narpuh Wildlife Sanctuary and the Narpuh Reserved Forest. “Narpuh residents will be served with carbon dioxide instead of oxygen. It will also affect the fish farms in Lukha,” the organisation said.
Stating that the Star Cement, one of the largest cement plants in the North East does not care about the people of Narpuh, the organisation said all companies does not give a fair share of jobs to the locals.
The organisation said the companies do not appoint locals to high posts but are offered Grade IV posts such as cleaner, peon, gardener and driver even when they are qualified in Engineering, M.Com and MBA.
While the presence of companies in Narpuh Elaka is only a threat to the children, the organisation also alleged that companies in Narpuh Elaka, especially Star Cement, use a divide and rule policy to facilitate the operation and management of their companies.
The organisation further said the company has never followed the Meghalaya Industrial Policy Act, which stipulates that 60 per cent of the locals should be employed. At present only 20 per cent are locals and the rest are employees from outside the state, it added.
