SHILLONG, May 15: The East Jaintia Hills District Unit of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Friday opposed the proposed public hearing for a limestone mining project, alleging that it threatens the ecological balance of the area, particularly affecting the Litein River.
Shree Cement Ltd is handling the project at Lum Syrman in the East Jaintia Hills district.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Environmental Engineer of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), the KSU unit’s president, Pynshaikupar Dkhar, said that the objection was submitted through the organisation’s Environment Cell ahead of the public hearing scheduled for May 22.
He said the union’s primary concern was the proximity of the proposed mining project to the Litein, which he described as one of the last clean and ecologically vibrant rivers in East Jaintia Hills.
“The Litein sustains biodiversity, irrigates fertile paddy fields without chemical inputs, and supports the livelihood of numerous communities. Any damage to the river will have irreversible consequences on the ecology and people dependent on it,” he said.
The KSU leader also alleged that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) draft report contained several contradictions, which could mislead the public.
“We urge the public to read the EIA draft carefully so they can understand the impact this cement plant and mining project may have in the future,” he said.
According to Dkhar, the EIA draft claims that there are no rivers, streams, or reserve forests within a 10-km radius of the project site, but elsewhere acknowledges the presence of the Litein River along the project boundary and the Saipung Reserve Forest within four kilometres.
“These contradictions can be substantiated from pages 44 and 91 of the EIA draft,” he said.
Dkhar further claimed that the EIA report admitted the existence of ecologically sensitive water bodies and possible caves in the area. He said the organisation had identified caves, including Krem Renge and Krem Noh Lujah, near the proposed site.
He also questioned the description of the project site as barren land in the EIA draft, saying the same report mentions forest cover of nearly 49.78% in the area.
“This means almost half of the forest land will be damaged or demolished if the project proceeds,” the KSU leader said.
Raising legal objections, he alleged that the proposed mining project violated statutory provisions and judicial precedents under the EIA Notification, 2006.
Dkhar claimed that the project had been categorised as Category B1 instead of Category A, despite its environmental implications.
“As per the proposed mining project, this project should fall under Category A, which requires further scrutiny from the concerned ministry. The present categorisation clearly violates the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006,” he said.
The KSU leader urged the MSPCB and the state administration to re-examine the matter before proceeding with the public hearing.
He also said several local villagers had extended support to the union’s objections, although he clarified that issues related to land ownership and acquisition involved private landholders and were separate from the environmental concerns raised by the KSU.
