Protest prevents public hearing on expansion of limestone mining in Meghalaya

Protest prevents public hearing on expansion of limestone mining in Meghalaya

A Reporter

SHILLONG: A protest by hundreds of residents from six villages in East Jaintia Hills district prevented the district authorities from conducting the public hearing on the expansion of limestone mining project of Star Cement at Brichyrnot area under Narpuh Elaka.

Protesters including school students carrying placards and banners blocked the road and disallowed the Deputy Commissioner FM Doph and officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board from holding the public hearing.

The protest was led by the 6 Shnong Wah Lukha Association backed by several NGOs which include Khasi Students’ Union, Jaintia Students’ Union, Jaintia Students’ Movement and STIEH.

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.

“Conrad K Sangma please don’t preach environmental protection only in Shillong and destroying the environment in Narpuh Area”, “Save wildlife, wildlife will save you, animal big & small let’s save them all” – read some of the placards.

The 6 Shnong Wah Lukha Associations had also threatened to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court against the move of the cement company to expand its mines at the village, which is located near the Narpuh wildlife sanctuary and Wah Lukha, a major river.

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