NONGSTOIN: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) West Khasi Hills District has demanded of the Deputy Commissioner to put in effect laws to prevent the coke plants in Shallang area from polluting the environment.
In a meeting with the DC on Thursday, the KSU asked him to impose Section 33 (A) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Section 31 (A) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
KSU general secretary Rishot Kharbani informed that the Union has urged the DC to identify an industrial area of 5-10 km radius, which is away from the villages in Shallang or elsewhere with strategic mapping and planning for setting up of coke plants and stop granting clearance to all illegal coke plants in Shallang till such an area is identified.
While seeking transparency in generation of revenue from all factories in the district, the Union said that the government should bring a policy where private firms should generate employment through the employment exchange of the state.
It also stressed that technical and skill institutions related to Industry and Manufacturing sectors should be established, while demanding that the government should also set up a branch of the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Pollution Control Board at the district-level.
As per the report of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, which conducted an inspection in July this year, it was revealed that only three coke plants have been granted operational consent while one is applying, seven have applied for consent to establish, which is under process, and seven other coke plants have not been granted clearance, Kharbani said.
The Union, meanwhile, said that it will continue its opposition to the setting up of illegal coke plants in Shallang, while urging the DC to take necessary steps immediately regarding the matter.
