By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has demanded closure of all cement plants operating in Jaintia Hills following reports of the high-level committee that cement plants in Jaintia Hills were operating in the middle of forested areas.
Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Conrad Sangma on Friday demanded for immediate closure of the cement plants and also sought afforestation compensation as was sought from Lafarge Umiam Mining Ltd by the Supreme Court.
Terming the issue as a ‘massive scam’ the NCP leader questioned the Government’s move on issuing No Objection Certificates (NOC) to these cement plants for operating in the middle of the forest lands.
“All such cement companies violating the norms must compensate for the loss of forest cover,” Sangma told media persons here.
It may be mentioned that the State Government had formed the high-level committee to probe whether cement plants were operating in the middle of forest land.
The committee headed by JP Prakash had, in its report submitted to the State Government, confirmed that the cement plants have been set up in forest areas. Eight cement companies alleged to have flouted the environmental and other laid norms include Cement Manufacture Co Ltd (Star Cement), Meghalaya Cement Ltd (TOPCEM), Adhunik Cement Ltd, JUD Cement Private Ltd, Hill Cement Company Ltd, Goldstone Cement Ltd, Green Valley Industries Ltd and Amrit Cement Industries Ltd.
The committee has even recommended the State Government to ask all the cement and mining companies in Jaintia Hills to stop any fresh clearing of natural vegetation till necessary approval under the Forest Conservation Act is obtained.
The Opposition leader also alleged that the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has send several letters to State Government regarding setting up of the cement plants but they never bothered to reply back.
Sangma also warned that the party would take up the matter with Central Government and even in Parliament if the State Government fails to initiate stringent action following the report.
Earlier, the Youth Wing of the party had demanded for an independent inquiry into the alleged violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 by several cement factories that have come up in the last 15 years in Jaintia Hills district.