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Shillong, May 18: A wave of protests swept through Shillong on Monday, opposing a proposed cement plant and limestone mining initiative in the East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. Activists and local groups have raised concerns about alleged irregularities and intimidation during a prior public hearing related to the project.

The demonstration, led by the Jaintia Students Union (JSU) and the Jaintia National Council (JNC), specifically targeted the planned Shree Cement facility at Lum Syrman in Elaka Nongkhlieh.

Protesters, brandishing flags and placards, attempted to march towards the Secretariat but were halted by police.

Representatives from the protesting groups accused the authorities and project stakeholders of obstructing local residents and activists from participating freely in the earlier public hearing.

JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh criticized the public hearing for its lack of transparency, claiming it was conducted under intimidating circumstances.

“The recent public hearing felt more like a private meeting, where individuals allegedly linked to the Elaka, through the Dolloi, engaged in intimidation tactics, including the use of goons and blocking access routes with heavy vehicles,” Lyngdoh stated.

He further alleged that villagers were being coerced into agreeing to another public hearing concerning a limestone mining project that spans approximately 217.394 hectares in the region.

Both the JSU and JNC firmly opposed the project, asserting that the cement company disregarded the rights and concerns of the indigenous communities residing in Elaka Nongkhlieh.

The groups also expressed skepticism regarding the credibility of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted for the project, claiming it was based on environmental conditions relevant to Gujarat rather than those of Meghalaya.

“It is evident that Meghalaya and Gujarat are vastly different in terms of geography, soil types, climate, and overall environmental factors,” Lyngdoh remarked.

He suggested that using environmental assessments tailored to Gujarat's conditions indicates a potential misuse or misapplication of environmental regulations in Meghalaya.

“Applying environmental standards developed for Gujarat raises significant concerns and suggests a possible misapplication of environmental regulations and assessment protocols in Meghalaya,” he added.

In the aftermath of the protest, the organizations submitted a memorandum to the government, urging an immediate halt to the environmental clearance process for both the proposed cement plant and the limestone mining project.

Previously, the late Ricky AJ Syngkon, a former MP from Shillong, had called for a suspension of the environmental clearance granted to the proposed Star Cement plant, citing procedural irregularities and insufficient public consultation during the clearance process.