SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union Narpuh Circle met JHADC CEM Thombor Shiwat on Tuesday and demanded that the Council should stop issuing NOC for any new Industrial unit in the area under the jurisdiction of Elaka Narpuh.
Addressing the press after the meeting with the CEM, KSU Narpuh Circle president Siross Lamare said that the Union was deeply concerned over the mushrooming of cement plants in Elaka Narpuh area. The area already has the largest concentration of cement plants in the State in which more than nine plants are located in an area within a 5-km radius, Lamare said.
Kwinis Suchiang, KSU Secretary, said that the cement plants have caused pollution in the area which is beginning to be the major cause of health hazard in the area. He also said that the environment in the area has been devastated for the benefit of the companies only and the local people particularly the youth of the area are not benefiting from the presence of the cement industries in the area.
Siross also said that Eleka Narpuh already has its fair share of industries and the area is also very close to the Narpuh reserve forest. “We therefore urge upon the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council to stop issuing NOC for starting any industry in the area,” the Union said.
