Shillong, May 8: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) has warned of launching an agitation if in case no action is taken by May 15 on the JNC’s objections raised regarding a cement at Daistong in East Jaintia Hills district.
The JNC alleged several discrepancies, irrelevant mention of authorities in Gujarat, in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the Shree Cement plant.
“Since when does the Government of Meghalaya conduct public hearings on behalf of Gujarat?” a JNC statement said on Friday.
It also expressed disappointment over the government’s “complete silence” on the objections submitted to Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, SEIAA Meghalaya, and MoEF&CC Regional Office, Shillong, on April 30 last.
Other “violations” in the EIA report, according to JNC, include wrong seismic classification and violation of tribal rights as the proposed plant’s buffer zone in Elaka Nongkhlieh comprises 98.79% Scheduled Tribe population.
The JNC also alleged that Shree Cement’s entry had fractured the community.
“Farmers who have stood up to protect their land have found no hearing from the government,” it said.
Referring to a public hearing in December 2025 at Daistong, JNC said, “Original local residents were physically prevented from entering the hearing venue — blocked by individuals acting in the interests of the company, by utilising their goons and mafia.”
JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh said it would stage a march to Meghalaya Secretariat if no response is received by 15 May 2026.
