From Our Correspondent
KHLIEHRIAT, April 22: Residents of Shnongrim village in East Jaintia Hills have submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) opposing a public hearing scheduled for May 22 regarding a limestone mining project by M/S Shree Cement Limited.
The project involves the proposed extraction of limestone from 217.394 hectares at Lum Syrman. The villagers, who claim ownership of the land, have given authorities a seven-day deadline to cancel the hearing.
Speaking to the media, resident Bunlangki Sukhlain stated that the community was shocked by the notice, asserting they never consented to the project nor sold the land to any company. He explained that the area is currently used for agriculture and accused the company of mislabeling the site as a village area or “Block A.”
Another resident, Prince Sukhlai, said the land has belonged to their families for generations and remains their primary source of cultivation. He questioned how the company could claim ownership or arbitrarily rename the area.
Sonny Born Phyrngap and Arwonki Sukhlain also urged the government to halt the process, emphasising that all local landowners strongly oppose the proposal.
In response, the Deputy Commissioner advised the residents to submit their formal objections in writing to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to ensure their opposition as landowners is officially recorded.
