By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Lone KHNAM MDC in the KHADC, Adelbert Nongrum, has come down heavily on the Congress-led Executive Committee for allowing Maheshwari Mining Private Limited to operate in West Khasi Hills district despite claiming that it had cancelled the company’s trading license.
“I have inspected the spot and seen for myself that the firm has its office in Ranikor area,” Nongrum said while speaking during Question Hour on Wednesday.
He also added that the company had brought in JCBs and drilling machines also.
“Seeing all this I would not hesitate to say that there is something going on behind the scene. I cannot accept that the EC does not have the knowledge about the activities of this firm,” Nongrum said.
Nongrum further demanded an assurance from the EC that the Council would immediately act and stop the activities of this firm.
In reply, KHADC Executive Member in charge Trade, Antonio War, maintained that the EC was not aware about the firm’s activities since they had already cancelled its trading license.
He appealed the KHNAM MDC to provide detailed information about the exact area where the firm was carrying out its activity.
HSPDP MDC from Maw-kyrwat, Enbin K Raswai, who joined in the debate, however, claimed that it was the duty of the Trade department to verify the activities of the firm.
Earlier, the KSU South West Khasi Hills had taken exception to a recent statement of Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Mining and Geology, Bindo M Lanong, that he had no knowledge about the exploration of uranium at Porkut village near Nongjri in West Khasi Hills for the past two years by the West Bengal-based company — Maheshwari Mining Private Limited.
KHADC CEM Pyngshngain N Syiem had, later, requested the KSU to give two-weeks to the Council to verify if it had issued any NOC to the said company.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, the Mining and Geology and the Forest and Environment departments have also denied issuing any NOC to the said company for exploration of uranium.