SHILLONG, Aug 13: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has revealed that a total of 29 coke units were granted the consent to establish while another 20 units were granted the consent to operate in the state.
In their reply to RTI applications filed by social activist Agnes Kharshiing on August 7, the MSPCB said it had refused to grant permission to as many as 30 applicants to set up coke factories across the state.
The board said it had received 15 applications for setting up coke units in Shallang area in West Khasi Hills and four units were granted both the consent to establish (CTE) and consent to operate (CTO).
Referring to East Jaintia Hills, the MSPCB said they had received a total number of 52 applications out of which 18 units were granted CTE while 14 units were granted CTO.
For West Jaintia Hills, the board had received two applications of which one unit was granted CTE while another was granted CTO.
In South West Khasi Hills, six applications were received and all of them were granted CTE while one unit was granted CTO, the board said.
“No application was received for establishment of coke factories in East Garo Hills,” the MSPCB said.
Further, the board also said that they had conducted a public hearing before giving permission for establishment of M/s JUD Cement Limited in Wahiajer, East Jaintia Hills.