Proposed plant at Narpuh lacks clearance from local Dorbar: JNC
Shillong, Sept 20: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has urged the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to call off the public hearing for setting up of a cement plant in Narpuh area in East Jaintia Hills district, alleging the company was yet to procure the necessary clearance from the local Dorbar.
In a memorandum to the member secretary of MSPCB, JNC general secretary Wanshwa Suting on Thursday alleged that the Meghatop Cement Pvt Ltd, which wants to set up the plant, had not yet procured the mandatory No Objection Certificate from the local Dorbar or Doloi of Elaka Narpuh.
The MSPCB has scheduled the public hearing on 18 October 2024 at Wahiajer Narpuh.
However, the plant “shockingly” got its clearance from the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) on 3 July 2023, prompting MSPCB to call for the public hearing, the JNC said.
The cement company had proposed to set up a cement plant with 3 million ton with 50 MW captive power plant WHRS system without following due process, which was revealed to media by advocate Kynjaimon Amse, who died in an accident later, according to JNC.
The JNC also quoted Kynjaimon Amse as had alleged that the purported provisional NOC issued by the Doloi of Elaka Narpuh on 3 November 2022 was not an NOC but a word of assurance which read, “This is to certify that the No Objection Certificate for setting up of cement plant by Meghatop Cement Private Limited at Narpuh village is under consideration by the Dorbar of Elaka Narpuh. I do hereby assure that the NOC will be issued once The Dorbar of Elaka has passed the resolution.”
Referring to the Elaka Narpuh Sumer calling a special Dorbar on 23 September 2024 at Lumshnong with “NOC to Meghatop Cement” as an agenda, the JNC said this shows the company was yet to obtain the NOC from the Dorbar of Elaka Narpuh.
