Dorbar, KSU demand cancellation of ‘consent to establish’
Shillong, Apr 3: A proposed coke plant at Thlakaru in East Jaintia Hills district has faced opposition from local residents with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) assuring to conduct a spot inspection at the site.
The complaint in this regard was lodged by Wapungksur dorbar shnong, which claims jurisdiction over the “forest area” even as the Forest department had allegedly declared it as a “non-forest area”.
In view of the opposition to setting up the coke plant, MSPCB member secretary CH Chyrmang assured a delegation of the dorbar shnong led by its headman Postling Dkhar to conduct an inspection of the site.
“MSPCB has assured to conduct a spot inspection before taking a decision on whether to revoke the CoE (consent to establish),” Dkhar told reporters after a meeting with the MSPCB member secretary on Thursday.
Criticising the Forest department’s role in this regard, he said, “When asked if they had notice the forest area, the Board officials claimed that they got a clearance from the District Forest Officer (DFO) that it was a non-forest land. The reply came as a surprise to us because had they conducted a spot inspection, they would have noticed the reserved forest of the dorbar shnong.”
Dkhar further maintained that the dorbar shnong is determined not to allow others to interfere in its jurisdiction.
Prioritising public health over economic development, he said, “Even if we are poor, we want an environment that will be healthy for our people. We don’t need money because we don’t want to compromise the health and well-being of our people.”
“We are all aware that these coke plants will only pollute the environment. Therefore, we will continue to protect and preserve the reserved forest of the village,” he asserted.
Resolving to oppose the plant tooth and nail, the headman said, “If they dare try to bulldoze, the dolloi of Jowai and headman of Mookhep should be ready to take full responsibility of the consequences.”
Maintaining that his village is under Jowai Elaka, the Wapungskur headman accused the dolloi of Jowai Elaka of not informing the dorbar shnong about his decision to issue NOC for the coke plant.
“If he no longer want us to be part of the Elaka, we will gladly come out. If he requires a coke plant, let him set up in his own backyard or in Jowai,” he stated.
The headman said the dorbar would meet the dolloi on Friday and demand for cancellation of the NOC within three days.
The dorbar has also demanded cancellation of NOC issued by the headman of Mookhep village.
Alleging that no public hearing was conducted before granting CoE, he said Wapungskur dorbar shnong had rejected many requests for NOC to set up coke plants under its jurisdiction.
He also emphasised the need to conduct a thorough study on a coke plant at Mookhep and the alleged untimely deaths of children in the area.
Meanwhile, the MSPCB member secretary said the Board had granted the CoE based on the NOC issued by dorbar shnong of Mookhep.
“Without proper documents, we cannot proceed ahead,” he said.
Chyrmang, however, refused to comment on the boundary issue between the two villages.
Meanwhile, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has lent its support to Wapungskur dorbar shnong in opposing CoE issued for the setting up the coke plant.
The KSU Wapung unit urged the dolloi of Jowai Elaka and headman of Mookhep village to immediately cancel the NOCs issued by them to the company, Om Om Coke, for its Lam Coke Manufacturing Unit at Thlakaru.
The KSU unit also reminded the MPSCB of its “failure” in taking action on a complaint filed by the KSU against Abhi Coke at Mookhep for allegedly polluting the environment.
The KSU said it would soon conduct a follow-up on the issue before deciding its future course of action.
