JOWAI: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) under the chairmanship of East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner FM Dopth has given permission to Green Valley Cements to mine limestone in the district.
The permission was accorded following a public hearing on Wednesday.
The public hearing was attended by the heads of traditional institutions from the area, officials of Green Valley Cements and the Additional Deputy Commissioner, SS Syiemlieh.
Around 30 speakers addressed the hearing and all of them spoke in favour of giving necessary permission to the company to conduct mining operations.
The company will now be able to mine limestone on 4.89 hectares of land owned by the company.
The MSPCB officials informed that they will send the proceeding of the hearing to the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment for mining clearance to the company.
An official of the Green Valley Cements, Pawan Joshi, informed that the company has procured the land from local individuals with the help of the district administration. The land will be one of the most important limestone mining sites, the official said, adding “We cannot operate our plant if there is no mining site to feed the plant.”