SHILLONG: The Jaintia National Council (JNC) demanded the East Jaintia Hills district administration to immediately halt the proposed public hearings of M/s Meghalaya Cement Ltd and M/s Green Valley Industries Ltd scheduled for August 24 and 25, respectively.
In a letter addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of the district, JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh expressed strong opposition to the proposed public hearing on August 24 for the expansion of M/s Meghalaya Cement Ltd at Thangskai village and on August 25, for the operation of Shale Mining by M/s Green Valley Cement Ltd at Brichyrnot village.
Lyngdoh stated that the opposition is grounded in legitimate concerns. He highlighted that the presence of these cement companies in the district has not adequately addressed the needs and requirements of the local people, particularly concerning the employment of educated unemployed youth. The current employment rate of local residents in these cement companies is quite low.
“It is important to note that all higher-ranking positions/jobs in the aforementioned cement companies are occupied by individuals from outside the state, while local residents and eligible youths are disregarded and denied employment opportunities,” he stated.
Lyngdoh emphasised that if this trend continues and educated youths are not given employment opportunities, the existence of these cement companies would fail to benefit the local residents and the district as a whole. Instead, it would lead to an increase in influx and population of people from outside the state while depriving the local population of their rights and livelihoods.
The Council also expressed its belief that there are no job reservation policies in place for private cement companies in Meghalaya. They argued that since these cement companies are situated in remote rural areas, they should prioritize hiring local residents and youths from these areas for certain positions.
Regarding development in the region, Lyngdoh pointed out that these companies have contributed very little towards the development of the areas, despite repeated requests through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
“It has come to light that local contractors and suppliers providing goods for construction and production (such as sand, chips, bricks, coal, limestone, soil, etc.) have faced various issues, including delayed and uncertain payments,” he added.
Lyngdoh further warned that the proposed extension of clinkerisation by M/s Meghalaya Cements Ltd and the operation of shale mining by M/s Green Valley Industries Ltd would have a significant adverse impact on the environment in and around the villages and their surroundings.