SHILLONG: The government will find out whether there are any polluting industries in Umiam, an industrial estate that is also a popular tourist destination.
During the question hour in the Assembly on Wednesday, Congress MLA Charles Pyngrope said the presence of industries in the area has led to high pollution causing inconvenience to residents.
Stating that there are WhatsApp photographs of the pollution in the area, the legislator said the government should look into the matter that industries should not pollute Umiam and the adjoining areas as it is a tourist site.
To this, Commerce and Industries Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar assured that the government would look into it.
In reply to a question, Dhar said four manufacturing industries came up in each of the industrial park in Byrnihat and Umiam in the last five years.
The new entities at the Export Promotion Industrial Park in Byrnihat are Marda Industries Pvt Ltd, Orion Health Foods Pvt Ltd, Grover Carbonic Pvt Ltd and CMJ Breweries Pvt Ltd (Unit II).
Those at the Umiam Industrial area are Girik Briquettes Pvt Ltd, Pine Polypacks, North East Tubular Poles Pvt Ltd and KR Polymers.
Financial incentives are being extended by the government to Marda Industries, Orion Health Foods, Grover Carbonic, CMJ Breweries and KR Polymers.
Dhar further informed that Marda gets an incentive of Rs 101.6 lakh under the Meghalaya Industrial and Investment Promotion Scheme, 2016.
Orion Health Foods is getting Rs 45, 48 lakh under the National Mission on Food Processing. Grover Carbonic, KR Polymers and CMJ Breweries receive Rs 84.5 lakh, Rs 49.2 lakh and Rs. 188.09 lakh, respectively, under the state scheme.
CMJ is also getting Rs 4,876.5 lakh under the Central Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme, 2007.
Again, the same industry is getting Rs 162 lakh under the Central Interest Subsidy Scheme, 2007, and Rs 42.9 lakh under the Central Comprehensive Insurance Subsidy Scheme, 2007.
Employment of locals
Apprising on the employment of local people, Dhar said Marda Industries has employed 12 locals, Orion six, Grover Carbonic 11, CMJ Breweries (unit II) 88, Girik Briquettes 10, Pine Polypacks seven, North East Tubular Poles Pvt Ltd 10, KR Polymers eight.
Replying to a supplementary question raised by Congress’s HM Shangpliang on the norms laid down for providing employment to locals, Dhar said 60 per cent of the local people are to be employed in such industries.
Stating that the rule mandating 60 per cent employment of local people in the industries has to be followed, Shangpliang said, “The department should take note of the observation made in the House to ensure that locals get employment as per the norm.”
In this connection, the minister said the matter will be examined.
