JOWAI: The public hearing for the proposed limestone mining by Adhunik Cement received mixed response on Tuesday.
Altogether 105 speakers registered their names but only 71 shared their views on the public hearing. Twelve of the 71 speakers opposed the mining proposal.
S. Syiem, the assistant environment engineer of the state pollution control board, said 51 written statements were received from various pressure groups and only four were against the proposal.
Leaders of the FKJGP, KSU Narpuh Circle, MPUF and NEIPF have strongly opposed the proposal of the cement company to extract limestone from 4.90 hectare of land.
Lumshnong headman Piush Lamare urged locals to extend their support to the project and asked the authority concerned to give a clearance to the mining.
Another speaker, Ronal Pala, also supported the proposal stating that the company has helped the local people in many ways like giving employment and allowing them to supply various raw materials. He urged the department concerned to grant the company permission for mining.
Opposing the mining move, NEIPF President M. Biam said, “Do you think about the environment? Can we plant trees on rock? Everyone has the right to live, we don’t have any right to take the place to kill the plant and the animals, all animals have families too, we cannot kill them and we should not kill. We cannot kill the environment for money, think for the future generation.”
The KSU Narpuh Circle General Secretary said he wasagainst the proposal because many a time they came to the company seeking help for the poor but Adhunik did not do anything. “Mining will pollute water and birds and animals will have no place to live,” he said.
“Those who extended their support to the company only thought about the present and not the future. I am against the proposal as it is destruction,” Shaphrang Pynkhlong said.
The MSPCB officials said the raw video footage will be sent to the Forest and Environment Department and the Ministry of Forest and Environment for screening and deciding whether to grant permission to Adhunik Cement.
The public hearing was chaired by Additional DC of East Jaintia Hills.
