NOC issued to 9 cement factories without any agreement

RTI REVELATION 

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, Feb 17: An RTI filed by the Hynniewtrep Student Union (HSU), central body from the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), revealed that three former CEMs of the Council had allegedly issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) to nine cement factories without any agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). “This issuing of NOC by these public representatives has placed the entire Jaintia Hills region in grave danger because the existence of many cement factories will ultimately destroy the environment and bring with it various health hazard,” HSU president Kyrshan Rymbai said. He said as per the information sought by the Union only three cement factories is enough to supplement the needs in the entire North Eastern state.

Kyrshan added, “However this surplus of cement factories which has now reached nine in numbers is only for the benefit of outsiders and the three former CEMs of JHADC who had issued NOCs for these factories.”

The former CEMs includes (L) Qually Suiam who had issued NOC towards two factories, Moonlight Pariat towards three factories and Hambertus Nongtdu towards four cement factories.

The Union informed that they will continue to follow up on the matter with an aim to find out whether or not the cement factories paid to avail the NOC and if the factories are actually following the guideline imbedded in the NOC issued by the former CEMs.

Kyrshan threatened that if there is any factory that is found to be violating the guidelines within the NOC or there is any hidden motive by the former CEMs, the Union will be forced to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the Supreme Court.