From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: NGOs in Jaintia hills including the All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation (AJYWO), the Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF), the Khasi Students’ Union (Narpuh Circle) and others have strongly condemned officials of the Nilanchaal Cement Pvt. Ltd for the illegal practice adopted by them at the public hearing held on Wednesday at Umlong village for the proposed integrated Cement plant.
The Cement Company allegedly distributed cash to individuals who attended the public hearing and supported the company proposal for setting up its cement plant at Umlong village.
Distribution of cash to people was only after the public hearing was over. There were volunteers who issued small slips to every person who came to attend the public hearing. Vehicle’s registration number and number of occupants were written in the slip issued by volunteer.
Soon after the public hearing was over, people rushed to meet the company officials to return the slip for money. An amount ranging from Rs. 1000.00 to 5000.00 was paid to individuals who extended their support to the company. Higher amount was paid to those individual who could speak better in the public hearing.
The KSU General Secretary, RM Bamon informed that soon after the MSPCB officials and media persons left the venue, the payment came about. On hearing this, some KSU activists rushed to the spot and took pictures to validate the fact.
“The company has treated our people wrongly just for the sake of its business and we will not allow such illegal practice”, said AJYWO President while condemning the act on the part of the company.
It may be mentioned that the NGOs have strongly opposed the proposed setting up of the cement plant by Nilanchaal Cement Pvt. Ltd.
“We need no more cement plants in East Jaintia Hills”, AJYWO President MH Dkhar said adding that only in a 15 square kilometer there are already 10 cement plants and their negative effect on the environment of the area is known to all.
“We are fed up with hundreds false promises made by these cements plant and we have decided to registered our protest against any company who planed to set up their cement plant in the area”, AJYWO vice president, BB Ryngkhlem said.
The JYF Chief Adviser, DL Rymbai said, “The project site of the Nilanchaal Cement Pvt. Ltd is a forest area and within the residential area of Umlong village”. “The Company has bought the land in 2009 and some trees have been cleared just to show that the forest land is a barren land”, he added.
The JYF has filed a PIL against all Cement companies who have come to set up their plants without clearance of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF). “We will also include Nilanchaal Cement Pvt. Limited in the PIL”, Rymbai said.