East Jaintia Hills village against limestone mining

JOWAI: The village Dorbar of Lumshnong in East Jaintia Hills has raised objection to the public hearing to be organised by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) on Tuesday for the proposed limestone mining in the area.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Rangbah Shnong said, “M/s Star Cement is expanding its limestone mining from 9 lakh tonne to 25 lakh tonne per day and we as the Dorbar Shnong strongly oppose such expansion as it will badly affect the life of all the residents.”
“We have registered our protest with MSPCB and also with the DC but the DC has stated in his letter that the chief minister has issued a directive to go ahead with the public hearing,” said the statement, adding that the Dorbar Shnong wanted the public hearing to be cancelled.
The headman pointed out that limestone mining will badly affect agricultural land and water sources and pose danger to the people because the mine is located in residential areas. “The explosive and blasting used by the company will also affect our houses,” the statement read.
“We strongly condemn MSPCB and also the district administration that on behest of the state government has decided to go ahead with the public hearing,” it added.