From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, Sep 21: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the Supreme Court of India, has submitted a set of recommendations to the Meghalaya government urging strong measures to safeguard the environment from unregulated stone quarrying and earth-cutting in Ri-Bhoi district and adjoining areas.
In its report to the court, the CEC cautioned against serious ecological risks caused by unchecked deforestation, quarrying, and soil excavation. It recommended that all such activities be temporarily suspended until inspections and clearances under environmental laws are thoroughly verified.
The committee proposed that all mining and quarrying operations in the district be halted immediately, pending a comprehensive review led by a senior officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
The inspection would examine the legality of forest clearances, the disposal of excavated earth, and the impact of quarrying on nearby rivers and water bodies.
The report further suggested that areas affected by such activities should be treated as “recorded forests” until confirmation is provided by the Forest Survey of India and other agencies. It also called for the creation of a Digital Forest Registry using geo-referenced data to ensure transparency in classification. One of the major recommendations concerns the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), the Education Research and Development Foundation (ERDF), and other educational institutions.
The CEC proposed a ₹150.35 crore penalty against them, citing allegations of encroachment into forest areas without statutory clearance. The committee stated that such funds should be used for ecological restoration and the removal of unauthorised structures. It also recommended that all land under USTM, be restored as normal forest within one year.
Beyond institutional accountability, the CEC advised a seasonal ban on quarrying and earth-cutting in all hill district areas of Meghalaya between May 1 and September 30 each year, except for projects deemed emergency and formally having prior approval from the state government.
The report also referred to the historical recognition of Hima Mylliem lands as forest areas. It recommended that the Meghalaya government notify them as reserved forests under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, and complete the process within one year of issuing public notification. At the same time, the CEC emphasised that such measures should not affect existing homes and private properties.
If acted upon, these recommendations could have significant socio-economic consequences for thousands of residents from Byrnihat up to Khanapara, many of whom depend on stone mining, quarrying, stone transport, and allied activities for their livelihoods.
