SHILLONG, July 24: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) on Friday reiterated its unwavering support for the affected villagers, farmers, and landowners of Daistong Elaka Nongkhlieh in East Jaintia Hills ahead of the public hearing scheduled for July 31 on Shree Cement Limited’s proposed limestone mining and cement project.
Addressing the media after a joint meeting with the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Jaintia National Council (JNC), and Confederation of Ri Bhoi People (CoRP), CoMSO chairman Roy Kupar Synrem said the conglomeration is not opposed to developmental projects. He, however, insisted that the rights of indigenous landowners and farmers must be protected before the project is allowed to proceed. “We have made our stand very clear that the state government must first remove all hurdles and resolve the grievances of the affected landowners before granting environmental clearance to the project,” he said.
Synrem acknowledged that the public hearing is a statutory process meant for obtaining environmental clearance and not for deciding land ownership disputes. However, he maintained that the government should not move the project forward until justice is delivered to the affected landowners and cultivators.
“We need development, but the welfare of the people must come first,” he said, adding that CoMSO has urged Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to intervene and ensure that the concerns raised by the affected villages, including representations already submitted to his office, are addressed.
Synrem said CoMSO would continue to stand firmly with the villagers if they require support and would decide its future course of action after assessing the outcome of the July 31 public hearing.
He also questioned the benefits that local communities have derived from the numerous cement factories already operating in East Jaintia Hills, alleging that while companies have profited immensely, locals have largely borne the costs through the loss of agricultural land, forests, water bodies, and environmental degradation.
The CoMSO chairman further urged the state government to undertake a comprehensive study on how indigenous communities have benefited from existing industrial projects before approving new ones. He also called for guaranteed employment opportunities and other benefits for residents.
Echoing similar concerns, JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh said although cement industries have created some employment, local people are mostly confined to low-paying jobs such as security guards and cleaners, while skilled and technical positions continue to be occupied by outsiders despite the availability of qualified local youth.
The organisations also questioned the decision to hold the July 31 public hearing at 8 a.m., instead of the usual 10 a.m., saying the change raised suspicion among the affected communities.
The proposed project has remained controversial since May 22, when the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board was forced to cancel the scheduled public hearing at Lum Syrman following massive protests by the residents and pressure groups.
The hearing, which was to consider environmental clearance for Shree Cement’s proposed limestone mining project at Lum Syrman in Daistong village under Elaka Nongkhlieh, was disrupted after hundreds of protesters opposed the project over land ownership disputes, environmental concerns and fears of losing agricultural land and water sources.
The situation turned tense, with incidents of stone-pelting while a truck was set on fire near the venue, prompting the authorities to call off the hearing to maintain law and order.
The project involves a proposed limestone mining area covering around 217 hectares, with local organisations alleging that the larger cement project would ultimately affect over 600 hectares of land, including forests, agricultural fields and water bodies.
