By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The cement companies operating in Jaintia Hills will have to pay a hefty penalty for violating provision of Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Announcing quantum of penalty to be imposed on erring cement plants here on Monday, Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong informed that the Joint Inspection Team (JIT), constituted by the State Government, has unearthed misuse of around 1600 hectares of forest land by nine cement companies.
“The erring cement companies will have to buy double of the land misused by them and subsequently the entire area will have to be afforested,” he said.
The State Government had constituted the JIT in February last year comprising of the State Chief Conservator of Forests, CP Marak, and Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests from the Union ministry of Environment and Forests’ Regional office, BN Jha, to verify allegations that the cement companies in Jaintia Hills had flouted environmental norms and have set up their plants in forest areas.
The JIT inspected the land held by nine cement companies in East Jaintia Hills.
When asked about the identity of the nine cement companies which have violated the forest Act, the Minister said almost all the companies were guilty of violation of forest act.
The team, which visited 1,142 hectares of land on Monday, will submit its report shortly, Tynsong said.
The nine erring companies are Adhunik Cement Limited, Amrit Cement Industries Limited, Cement Manufacturing Company Limited, Cosmos Cement Limited, Green Valley Industries Limited, Goldstone Cement Limited, Hills Cement Company Limited, JUD Cements Limited and Meghalaya Cement Limited.
The Minister also informed that the report of the JIT would be forwarded to the Ministry of Forest and environment for necessary action.