From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: Concerned over vast destruction of forest land in Jaintia hills by various cement companies, the Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) has demanded suspension of all officials who declared such forest areas as barren land to help cement companies easily obtain permission from the central government.
“Cement plants in the district have mushroomed, based on faulty certificates and NOCs issued by state government officials, by declaring all forest areas as “barren land” and consequently the cement plants avoided obtaining mandatory prior permission of Central Government under the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act,1980”, JYF President, P. Majaw said.
“This is according to the Chief Conservator of Forest (Central) who had filed initial complaint in the matter”, he added
The JYF stated that since the CCF (Central) is a member of the joint committee in the new dispensation, he must be having proof that these areas are forests.
The JYF further stated that the Lafarge judgment is an example of how Supreme Court viewed the setting up of industries in forest areas as violation of Forest Conservation Act and a similar action has to be taken by the government against all cement companies operating in Jaintia Hills.
