SHILLONG, May 15: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) and the Jaintia National Council (JNC) on Friday announced a joint protest march to the Secretariat on May 18 to oppose a proposed public hearing for Shree Cement Ltd’s limestone mining project in East Jaintia Hills.
The organisations are protesting what they termed the “forceful imposition” of the project on the residents of Daistong under Elaka Nongkhlieh. The proposed mining site at Lum Syrman covers approximately 217.394 hectares.
A major point of contention raised by the groups is the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
They alleged that the EIA was based on environmental conditions in Gujarat, making it fundamentally unsuitable for Meghalaya’s specific terrain, soil composition and climate. The groups criticised the MDA-II government for allowing a project assessment that ignores local geographical realities.
The JSU and JNC further alleged that previous attempts to hold public hearings were marred by irregularities and intimidation.
They claimed that individuals associated with the Elaka had used heavy vehicles to block access routes, preventing affected residents from participating in the democratic process.
Accusing the cement company of disregarding local rights, the organisations stated that East Jaintia Hills is being treated as a “dumping ground” with no regard for the long-term welfare of the community.
They maintained that any public hearing must ensure equal and transparent participation for all stakeholders.
