Friday, July 11, 2025
spot_img

Lafarge yet to hand over land to Govt

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The State Government has taken exception to the delay by Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Ltd (LUMPL) in handing over the proposed land to allow the Government to start the process of compensatory afforestation.

As a penalty for carrying out limestone mining in forest land measuring about 116.589 hectare at Nongtrai Shella in East Khasi Hills district to facilitate supply of limestone to its cement plant located in Bangladesh, the Supreme Court in its ruling on July 6, 2011 had directed LUMPL to pay certain amount to the State Government for compensatory afforestation from April 1, 2007 towards Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

The government, which was supposed to start tree plantation within the monsoon season, but delay by LUMPL in handing over the land has led to a delay in the afforestation programme.

“The Government is authorised to direct the LUMPL to close down their mining operations if they do hand over the land for compensatory afforestation in time,” Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong said recently.

He also said that he is aware that it is almost one year since the apex court had directed Lafarge to convert the non-forest area into forest land as part of the compensatory afforestation.

“As per my knowledge, the company is trying to locate land somewhere in Garo Hills for the compensatory afforestation. The Government would pursue with the LUMPL for handing over the land at the earliest,” Tynsong said.

Earlier, chairman of the LUMPL Board of Directors, Shivesh Sinha, had claimed that the company had already deposited a total amount of Rs 3 crore with the State Government to carry out a drive to plant around 4 lakh saplings in around 470 hectares of land.

“Under compensatory afforestation, about 4 lakh trees would be planted in an area of 470 hectares in Meghalaya. Planting of saplings should be carried out by the State Forest department and we have already deposited Rs 3 crore towards CAMPA,” Sinha had claimed.

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

22 Maoists, including eight females, surrender in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, July 11: In a significant development in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, 22 Maoists laid down their arms on...

BJP looting land, forest, water: Rahul Gandhi at ‘save Constitution’ rally in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, July 11: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday targeted the BJP, alleging that the ruling party has...

Centre plans Rs 1,345 crore subsidy scheme to boost production of Rare Earth magnets

New Delhi, July 11: The Indian government has drawn up a scheme to offer subsidies to the tune...

We missed no targets in Pak, not even a glass pane broken in India: NSA Doval on Op Sindoor

New Delhi, July 11: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday addressed the convocation ceremony at IIT...