Ri Bhoi pressure groups to shut down Calcium Industry

SHILLONG: A conglomeration of five pressure groups from Ri Bhoi including the Ri-Bhoi People Movement (RBPM), Federation of Ri-Bhoi People (FRBP), Ri-Bhoi People United Organization (RBPUO), Ri- Bhoi Student Union (RBSU) and HANM will visit Sohpdok village under Mawhati constituency on April 19 in a bid to close down the Meghalaya Calcium Industry (MCI) established in the area.
“On April 19 we will visit the site to find out the facts behind the establishment of the Meghalaya Calcium Industry (MCI) and we have requested Dorbar Shnong Sohpdok and officials of the company to gather on this date and bring along documents for verification,” RBPUO president J. Jyrwa said.
While addressing a press conference, Jyrwa said that following opposition from Sohpdok villagers, the MCI has decided to close down its operations.
“The company cannot be trusted and we want to know the reason for it deciding to stop operations, “Jyrwa said.
As to the claims of the Dorbar Shnong that it had received an NOC from Meghalaya State pollution Board (MSPB), the pressure groups pointed out that a meeting with the Chairman of MSPB on March 22 revealed that no NOC was given to the MCI. It may be mentioned that the proposed move to set up the company in a residential area was opposed citing reasons that it will not only destroy the environment but affect the local water bodies.