Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) and the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee have demanded the cancellation of the July 31 public hearing for a proposed Shree Cement Limited project at Lum Syrman. The JSU issued a 10-day ultimatum to the state government, threatening to move to the National Green Tribunal and the Meghalaya High Court if authorities ignore their demand.
A delegation led by JSU President Jersom Shylla, joined by Bocheru Mi Pohsnem, Borntifulson Rupon, and Tricky Mukhim, filed a legal representation with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. They also met with CPCB Scientist Arnab Mandal and the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills. The union wants the hearing declared null and void ab initio.
The hearing lasted 46 minutes. Organizers reportedly barred local farmers, landowners, and residents from Shnongrim and Daistong from entering the site. The JSU claims police blocked stakeholders at Lad Shnongrim despite district administration orders allowing their participation. Hired agitators allegedly dug up roads to block entry, which led to a medical emergency where a woman in labor was stranded in a vehicle.
The union demands an independent probe into police and pollution board conduct. They cite the Supreme Court ruling in Hanuman Laxman Aroskar vs Union of India to argue that public consultation is a mandatory component of environmental clearance.
MPCC leader Manuel Badwar backed the move. He labeled the road damage criminal. "If the public hearing was geared towards only one section of society voicing their opinions, then it is undemocratic," Badwar said.
The JSU has also contacted the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Protesters have filed an FIR and reached out to the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission. No officials have responded yet.
Comments