HC takes up PIL on LPG bottling plant

SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya on Friday heard the PIL regarding the need to set up an LPG bottling plant in Umiam.
The Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner has filed an affidavit on April 2 stating therein that Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) management has approved to setup a state of art LPG bottling plant within old IOCL depot land at Umiam for better availability of LPG cylinders in Meghalaya.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice H. S. Thangkhiew said as per the affidavit, no-objection certificate from Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council has been obtained and the registered land lease documents were submitted to KHADC and Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) based on which NOCs were obtained.
The District Magistrate, Ri Bhoi district fixed the date for public hearing on March 23 which could not happen. The next date has been fixed on April 23.
Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board had raised objection to the effect that the proposed LPG storage of 3×150 MT MSVs and bottling capacity of 30,000 MTPA at Umiam is not in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Environmental Impact Assessment notification in 2006 and its amendment notification as a minimum notice period within thirty days to the public is required for furnishing their responses and hence fixed the date for April 23. The next hearing will be held in the first week of May after getting the status report.