By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 15: The Khasi Students’ Union East Jaintia Hills District Unit (KSU-EJHDU) on Monday urged the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to immediately withdraw its notice for a public hearing scheduled for December 19 in connection with the proposed Shree Cement Integrated Cement Plant at Daistong in East Jaintia Hills district.
In a letter addressed to the Member Secretary of the MSPCB GH Chyrmang, KSU-EJHDU general secretary Kwilnis Suchiang warned that the “grave procedural and legal lapses” could have implications for peace, security and environmental governance in the state.
The union alleged that the notice for the public hearing was issued on the basis of erroneous and misleading facts, thereby violating the mandatory provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. It claimed that the statutory requirement of furnishing requisite documents had been bypassed, raising questions of legality and jurisdiction, particularly with respect to the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act, 1972.
The union further stated that an Agreement to Sale dated October 6, 2025, was executed between a tribal landowner, Syrpaibha Sukhlain, and Shree Cement Limited through its authorised signatory Bharat Sharma for the transfer of land at Khar Siang Lum Pyrshim, Daistong, Elaka Nongkhlich, for the purpose of establishing a cement plant
According to the KSU, the transaction involves the transfer of land from a tribal to a non-tribal entity.
Pointing out that such transfers are expressly prohibited under Section 3(1) of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act, 1972, the KSU stated that no sanction has been issued by the competent authority, namely the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned, as required under the Act.
“In light of the above, there exists a significant procedural and legal lacuna in the preparation for the proposed public hearing,” the union stated, adding that proceeding with the hearing would not only violate state land laws but also run contrary to the constitutional safeguards provided under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
The KSU cautioned that any further action by the MSPCB to advance the public hearing could be construed as endorsing a land transfer prohibited under state legislation, potentially leading to serious legal and constitutional consequences. It also claimed that there are several deficiencies in the EIA, with potential adverse effects on both the environment and the society.
The union requested the MSPCB to immediately withdraw the notice to ensure compliance with the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act, 1972, and the EIA Notification, 2006.
