Shillong, April 30: The JNC Central Executive Committee (JNC), led by President Sambormi Lyngdoh, has today filed a complaint with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board concerning the public hearing for Shree Cement in Nongkhlieh East Jaintia Hills District, scheduled for 22/May/2026.
In discussions with the Member Secretary of the MSPCB, several issues were raised regarding violations by Shree Cement in its EIA report.
Sambormi Lyngdoh, President of the JNC, stated to reporters, “We want to clarify that our intention is not to oppose development, but to address the violations of the following laws:
Firstly, this project does not fall under the State’s jurisdiction. As per the EIA Notification 2006, any mining lease exceeding 50 hectares is classified as a Category A project, which is under the Central Government’s jurisdiction through the MoEF&CC.
The Shree Cement mine spans 217 hectares, significantly exceeding the threshold. The SEIAA, Meghalaya lacks the authority or legal basis to issue a ToR for this project. Consequently, any actions taken under that ToR, including this public hearing, are illegal and void in the eyes of the law.
However, when the MS of MSPCB was contacted, he mentioned that the Government of India has amended the EIA threshold from 50 hectares to 250 hectares, but the major mineral regulations must still adhere to the General Condition of the Terms of Reference.
Secondly, this EIA was specifically prepared for a project in Gujarat. The first page of the EIA’s Preamble explicitly states, in the consultant’s own words: “The primary objective of this EIA report is to obtain prior environmental clearance from the Environmental Impact Assessment Authority of the State of Gujarat.” This indicates that this EIA is not applicable to Meghalaya. Why is a public hearing being proposed in Meghalaya?
Lastly, Shree Cement has submitted this EIA without an approved Mining Plan from the Indian Bureau of Mines. According to their EIA, a mine cannot proceed without an approved Mining Plan, as per legal regulations.
Fourthly, the Saipung Reserve Forest is distinctly situated just 4.26 km from the project site, as indicated by the EIA. The EIA notification of 2006 states that areas within 5 km are classified as category A, yet the EIA asserts that it is categorized as B.
