Shillong: Villagers from Shnongrim claim police blocked roads and intimidated locals during a July 31 public hearing for a proposed Shree Cement limestone mine at Lum Syrman. The landowners, farmers, and the Shnongrim Dorbar submitted these claims to a Fact-Finding Committee on Monday. They want a full probe into the obstruction.
Trouble started early. Police allegedly blocked the NEC road near Lad Shnongrim at 7 a.m. Other officers and unidentified men blocked the route near Lad Tongseng. They pelted stones at the crowd. These barriers kept people from Khliehriat, Jowai, and surrounding villages from reaching the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board venue.
Access also suffered on foot. Locals said footbridges across Wah Litein and Wah Krong were damaged. These bridges help families reach their crops. Currently, 117 families assert customary rights over Lum Syrman across 158 plots of land. They provided maps, boundary documents, and JHADC records to prove their ties to the site. The group insists authorities must settle ownership issues before any mining starts.
The committee is reviewing the situation under Notification No. POL.95/2026/5. They must examine the social, legal, and environmental consequences of the project. The villagers urged the panel to act. "The landowners and Shnongrim Dorbar urged the committee to examine their documents and hear all stakeholders before finalising its report."
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