SHILLONG, APR 16: Meghalaya-based NGOs have demanded action against more than eight cement companies operating in the Jaintia Hills district for alleged violation of the State Forest Conservation Act, 1980 in keeping with judgment of the Supreme Court in the case involving Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt. Ltd.
The NGOs, quoting a report of the joint inspection team led by the officials from the State Forest department and Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), said it clearly states that an area measuring up to 838 hectares where the cement companies are located have been assessed as “forest land” while another 1140 hectares is yet to be surveyed. “We demand action be taken against the cement companies in the Jaintia Hills for violation of the Forest Conservation Act without waiting for the 1140 ha of land that are yet to be assessed in the region,” they said.
Maitshaphrang and the Jaintia Youth Federation in their joint memorandum to the MoEF and State Forest and Environment Department on Tuesday put forth the list of actions that they want taken against the companies. They include raising of compensatory afforestation over double the forest land diverted (i.e 838 ha x 2) which amounts to over Rs 83.80 crore for each cement company.
“The cement companies penal compensatory afforestation for all broken up area (the total area which has been cleared of all trees) which has been used for setting the cement plants and mining areas should five times,” said Maitshaphrang convener Michael Syiem.
Stating that the payment for the net present value should be at Rs 8 lakh per hectare, Syiem added: “The cement companies must also deposit Rs 90 for every ton of limestone mined right from the beginning of limestone mining till they stop mining which will be utilized for welfare project. These companies should also be asked to prepare comprehensive biodiversity management plan and provide funds for them.”
Meanwhile, the two organizations have also asked the state government to fix responsibility against all those officials for violation of Forest Conservation Act and take appropriate disciplinary action against them.
Notably, the eight cement plants include CMCL (Star Cement), MCL (Topcem), JUD (Best Cement), Green Valley, Amrit Cement, Adhunik Cement, Hill Cements (Taj) and Goldstone Cement. –By Our Reporter
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