East Jaintia Hills Swimming Association calls for safeguarding of Narpuh caves
A Reporter
SHILLONG: East Jaintia Hills District Swimming Association on Saturday appealed to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to safeguard the caves in Narpuh region by denying environmental clearance to Star Cement Ltd for its proposed expansion of limestone mining in the area.
In a letter to the secretary of MSPCB, the association said that Narpuh region is an area blessed with many beautiful caves (Liat hati cave, Kotsati, etc) and some of them are the longest in the world. These caves are a major attraction for tourists and researchers.
However the association lamented that the caves had constantly been under threat since the beginning of mining of limestone by cement factories and if the further expansion of mines is allowed, the cave system of the area will be totally destroyed.
The association said that the proposed site for expansion of mines by Star Cement is located approximately 500 metres from the Lunar River (a river which flows to the Lukha river) and if the company is allowed to start mining at the proposed site then all types of effluent will be directly or indirectly discharge into the Lunar river and subsequently into the Lukha river.