Warning resonates in Meghalaya amid mounting scrutiny
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 27: The Environment Ministry’s latest warning to states over lapses in penal compensatory afforestation compliance comes at a time when Meghalaya is already under close scrutiny for forest-law violations, protection of fragile water bodies, industrial pollution and the continuing impact of illegal coal mining.
The ministry said on Monday that several states are submitting incomplete compliance reports for Stage-I approvals in cases where penal compensatory afforestation, or PCA, has been imposed, instead of providing the full details required under the guidelines. It said this is delaying Stage-II approvals because the Centre is being forced to seek the same compliance again.
PCA refers to afforestation that must be carried out over and above normal compensatory afforestation when forest land has been diverted or used for non-forest purposes without prior approval. The ministry’s January 21 guidelines lay down the procedure for imposing PCA in such cases.
In Meghalaya, the issue carries added weight because forest and environmental violations have repeatedly surfaced in public interest litigation, regulatory action and local protests. The Meghalaya High Court has in recent years intervened to protect Umiam Lake, directing that no future construction be allowed in or around the lake without strict norms and a buffer zone, after finding unauthorised construction activity close to the water body.
The state has also been under pressure over industrial pollution in Byrnihat and East Jaintia Hills where the government recently imposed restrictions on new coke oven plants and expansion of existing units after studies showed the area was approaching critically polluted status. Residents and environmental groups have long complained that emissions from coke ovens are affecting air quality, water sources and public health.
Illegal coal mining remains another major concern. Reports and investigations have pointed to continuing rat-hole mining despite the ban, with serious ecological damage, unsafe working conditions and polluted water bodies in coal-rich districts.
A dynamite blast in an illegal mine in East Jaintia Hills killed 34 labourers in February, underscoring how enforcement gaps and environmental degradation continue to overlap in the state.
That concern has since been reinforced by recent controversies over forest land use in the state, including the USTM case in Ri-Bhoi district, where allegations of forest-land encroachment and non-compliance triggered major regulatory action.
Meghalaya has also seen criticism over green violations linked to large development projects, including concerns raised around the New Shillong Township project. These cases have sharpened debate over whether clearances, restoration commitments and land-suitability checks are being properly enforced in the state.
The ministry has now directed states to submit full compliance for all Stage-I approvals granted before January 21, 2026, where PCA was made applicable, along with a verification report from the regional office on the suitability of the land proposed for afforestation. A similar procedure will apply to Stage-I approvals granted on or after January 21, 2026, wherever PCA has been levied.
In Meghalaya, where forest conservation is closely tied to land use, mining, infrastructure growth and community rights, the Centre’s latest move is likely to put greater pressure on departments and project proponents to show complete compliance rather than partial paperwork. (With PTI inputs)
