Shillong, June 16: The JSU after meeting with the DC were clarified that the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board have given recommendation for granting Environmental Clearance to Star Cement by the MoEF&CC.
The JSU after given 24 hrs deadline to the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills District have got information that the Member Secretary of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board had given recommendation towards the the Ministry of Environment,Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to gain Environmental Clearance for Star Cement.
The union stated that base on the letter written by the Member Secretary on the 3rd March,2020 to MoEF&CC and to the DC of East Jaintia Hills District that the Public hearing was called off two times since there was opposition from different parties and the head of MSPCB have requested to do away with the Public Hearing from MoEF&CC and to invoke para 7(i) stage 3 clause (v) of EIA 2006 so as to allow Star Cement to easily obtain Environmental Clearance to be able to mine limestone at Bricyrnot in an area of 42.O51 hectar.
The union questions the Chief Minister as to how he cannot come clean to give honest answers to the people that the state government is having clear knowledge of this recommendation through the MSPCB. The JSU express extreme resentment against this use of power by the government to supress people’s voice who are directly affected from this mining.
The union will not stand to allow this forceful act by the government which is against the land tenure system in jaintia hills as power granted by the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The union also questions the administration of the JHADC as to how they are silent on this subject and as to how the village of Brichyrnot is able to grant NOC without having recommendation from the JHADC.
