KHADC, HYNF conduct inspections
NONGPOH: A joint team of KHADC and HNYF members inspected the stone crushers operating in and around Killing in Ri Bhoi district following a complaint by HYNF about illegal quarries.
More than 12 stone crushers have been inspected and some of the quarries are illegal and do not have valid documents issued by the District Council.
The KHADC team — which comprised KHADC executive member in-charge of Land, Mines and Mineral, Hadrian Lyngdoh, accompanied by the Under Secretary and enforcement wing of the Council — asked for documents but none of the stone crushers run by non-tribals could produce valid papers.
Speaking to media persons after the spot inspection, Lyngdoh said the main aim of inspection in Killing is to stop the illegal operation of stone quarries and crushers which are damaging the environment and causing huge loss of revenue to the Council.
“It was surprising that more than twelve stone crushers were still operating without any valid documents issued by the KHADC and they even failed to display the signboard that they were authorised by the Council,” Lyngdoh said, adding that among them, only one stone crusher owned by Khrik Lyngkhoi has valid documents.
The owners of the illegal quarries will be summoned by the Council and if found that they are operating without any valid document, their stone quarries and crushers will be permanently seized, Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, HNYF president of Northern Region Marcus Marten said the NGO appreciated Lyngdoh and his officers for prompt action against the illegal stone quarries and crushers. alleged that the benefits from these stone quarries and stone crushers go to Assam and not to the people of Meghalaya as these were operated by non-tribals mostly from Assam.
Marten criticised the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and the Forest Department for their inaction.