By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 20: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday declined to stay the proposed public hearing scheduled for May 22 in connection with the proposed limestone mining project at Lum Syrman, Nongkhlieh Elaka in East Jaintia Hills by Shree Cements.
Hearing a writ petition filed by Bunlangki Sukhlain and 60 others, the Single Bench of Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew observed that the petitioners would be at liberty to place their objections and supporting materials before the authorities during the public hearing process.
The petitioners had challenged the proposed public hearing relating to the establishment of limestone mining in the area, contending that the project land is under their use and occupation and strongly objecting to any mining activity there.
Appearing for the petitioners, T.L. Jyrwa submitted that the Executive Summary prepared by the project proponent had wrongly described the land as barren land. He argued that the rights of the petitioners would be severely affected if the mining project proceeds and sought an interim stay on the public hearing.
However, Advocate General Amit Kumar, assisted by Additional Senior Government Advocate A.H. Kharwanlang, opposed the plea, arguing that the matter was still at a preliminary stage since the public notice issued by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board on April 17 had merely invited suggestions, comments and objections from affected persons and stakeholders.
The Advocate General further referred to an earlier order passed by the High Court on December 16, 2025 in WP(C) No. 684 of 2025 concerning the same project, wherein the court had refused to grant interim relief to stay a previous public hearing scheduled for December 19, 2025.
Senior advocate Nitish Mozika also supported the submissions made by the state and maintained that the petitioners could raise all objections during the public hearing.
After hearing the parties and examining the materials on record, the court noted that the public notice issued by the MSPCB had specifically invited objections and comments regarding the environmental aspects of the proposed project from all affected persons and stakeholders.
“In the considered view of this Court therefore, as the objection of the writ petitioners is also as to the status of the land contained in the Executive Summary, they shall be at liberty to present materials at the time of the public hearing which shall be taken into due consideration by the authorities, who are to decide the matter in accordance with law,” the court observed.
The court also stated that the petitioners would have recourse to alternative remedies if they had any issue concerning title and possession of the land in question.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on June 12.
VPP wants public hearing scrapped
The VPP’s East Jaintia Hills district committee staged a sit-in on Wednesday, demanding that the state government scrap the proposed mining project at Lumshyrman under Elaka Nongkhlieh and immediately cancel the public hearing scheduled for Friday. The protest, held near the statue of U Kiang Nangbah on the premises of the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner’s office in Khliehriat, was joined by members of the public, various civil society organisations, and VPP MDCs from JHADC.
Shree Cement is setting up a Rs 1,800‑crore integrated cement plant and limestone mining project at Daistong village in East Jaintia Hills, with a clinker capacity of 0.95 MTPA and a cement capacity of 0.99 MTPA, targeted for completion by March 2028.
VPP MDC and Leader of Opposition in the JHADC, Awhai Andrew Shullai, told reporters that the party’s MDCs had joined the sit-in in solidarity with the district unit opposing the entry of Shree Cement into the district.
He said the issue was first raised by former VPP MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon and urged the district administration to take the matter seriously by cancelling the proposed public hearing.
Shullai added that several organisations and members of the public had voiced opposition to the hearing, stressing that all developmental activities must follow due procedure and respect local sentiments. Meanwhile, VPP East Jaintia Hills district committee president Damewanhi L. Rymbai alleged that police personnel tried to prevent members of the public from participating in the protest after demonstrators sought to meet the Deputy Commissioner. He claimed the police used force, harassed protesters, and mishandled women during the agitation, and expressed disappointment that the Deputy Commissioner did not meet the delegation despite the party submitting a memorandum outlining its demands.
Rymbai warned that the VPP would continue its protests if the public hearing was not halted or the cement project cancelled, and alleged that the government was allowing outside companies to operate in the district while sidestepping the concerns of local residents and traditional authorities.
He further warned that proceeding with the hearing at Lumshyrman could trigger a stronger agitation in Khliehriat, and said that multiple organisations and groups were united in opposing the project and might intensify their movement if their demands were ignored.
In contrast, the United Joint Action Committee (UJAC), a coalition of 20 pressure groups, has extended support for the public hearing scheduled for May 22. In a memorandum to the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner, UJAC chairman Daowanh Rymbai urged the district administration to ensure the hearing goes ahead as planned with adequate security.
Daowanh said the project was expected to boost the region’s socio‑economic development through employment, improved infrastructure, and local business opportunities, asserting that it could uplift living standards while contributing to industrial growth.
He described the hearing as an essential democratic and statutory exercise and stressed that holding it on schedule would ensure transparency and compliance with environmental norms.
The UJAC chairman also sought sufficient security deployment to protect participants and maintain peace, arguing that robust security would prevent untoward incidents and allow free and safe expression of views, while reaffirming the committee’s commitment to sustainable development in the district.
