Shillong, Sep 10: Over 2000 residents of the various villages under Elaka Sutnga in East Jaintia Hills will again hit the streets in protest against the failure of the government to protect the people from the harmful pollution emitted from the coke factories established and operating within human habitations.
The residents are expected to take part in the protest rally organized by the Environment Coordination Committee (ECC) of Elaka Sutnga on Monday. The Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills, Ethelbert Kharmalki has granted permission for holding of the protest rally on Thursday.
The rally will begin from the football ground of Moopala on Monday at 9 am and will proceed towards Shi Kilo and finally the Deputy Commissioner’s office at Khliehriat. This rally will continue till 1pm.
It has been informed that 31 coke factories have recently got the Consent to Establish (CTEs) from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).
ECC general secretary, Pynbait Sutnga on Friday questioned whether these 31 coke factories had applied for the CTEs after they had already set up their factories; in other words post-facto permission.
Sutnga said that this is a clear violation of the rules since one applies for CTEs when they are planning to establish the factories.
“This clearly reflects that the owner of these factories already had an understanding with the top officials in the government,” the ECC general secretary said.
Meanwhile he also informed that there are another 10 illegal coke factories that got the CTEs from the MSPCB.
“These ten coke factories had started operations without obtaining the CTEs. Four coke factories got the CTEs just recently,” the ECC general secretary added.
