Shillong: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC), through its Central Executive Committee, has expressed concern over the State Government’s handling of the controversy surrounding the proposed Shree Cement project at Lum Syrman, Elaka Nongkhlieh, in East Jaiñtia Hills.
Speaking to the media on Friday, JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh said the organisation was surprised that despite the State Government constituting a fact-finding committee and announcing a status quo on the Shree Cement public hearing at Lum Syrman, the company’s activities concerning its environmental clearance were still moving forward.
Lyngdoh said the State-Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), at its meeting on September 8, accepted Shree Cement’s request to appear before the committee to discuss its application for environmental clearance for the Lum Syrman project. The matter has been listed as Agenda Item No. 7 for the 103rd SEAC meeting.
“This is something that has left the JNC deeply concerned,” Lyngdoh said.
He questioned the purpose of the fact-finding committee if the process related to Shree Cement’s environmental clearance continues simultaneously.
The JNC alleged that the committee could become a means for the government to divert or delay the issue and mislead affected landowners and farmers who claim rights over the land at Lum Syrman.
Lyngdoh said the JNC had seen similar committees being constituted in the past whenever people launched movements over issues concerning the state and its citizens. He cited the government’s high-level committee on the relocation of Harijan Colony residents from Them Metor and the committee examining the reservation policy, arguing that such committees had failed to produce tangible outcomes.
He said the JNC feared the Shree Cement fact-finding committee could meet the same fate.
The JNC also questioned the government’s lack of clarity regarding the committee’s functioning. Lyngdoh said that although the government had stated that the committee had begun functioning, no notification had yet been made public outlining its terms of reference, procedures, composition or the identity of its chairperson.
He also questioned how long the committee would take to submit its report to the government, particularly on the allegations concerning the treatment of residents and landowners in East Jaiñtia Hills.
According to Lyngdoh, the committee would have little purpose if Shree Cement’s documentation and clearance process continued during its proceedings.
“What purpose will the fact-finding committee serve if Shree Cement is allowed to obtain environmental clearance? The public hearing is specifically part of the process for obtaining environmental clearance and Consent to Establish,” he said.
The JNC urged the people of Jaiñtia and the wider state not to be misled and said it would continue to press for the rights of the affected landowners and farmers.
Lyngdoh said the organisation would deliberate on what it described as the government’s strategy and continue its demands until the affected landowners and farmers receive justice.
