SHILLONG:
The Environment Coordination Committee (ECC) along with the people of the Elaka Sutnga have dubbed the closure notice issued to 29 coke plants as well as refusal of consent by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPB) a “historic win in the Elaka.”
In a statement issued here, the ECC said it has partially won the battle against the elite few and the government over establishment of illegal coke plants in the Elaka after 29 of these were handed closure notice as well as refusal of consent by the MSPB.
“This is a historic win in the Elaka as never in its history has the voice of the people and the weak triumphed over the elite or coke mafia and the government,” the ECC said.
However, the ECC said that it will pursue the fight to expose the misuse of power by the government and the district council both on the ground and before the court of law.
The matter has also been raised before the National Green Tribunal and has been listed on March 10 for the respondents to file reply affidavit.
The ECC said that the Elaka Sutnga and East Jaintia Hills district have witnessed how the state and the district council have failed the citizens in protecting the future generation when as many as 42 NOCs were issued by the latter to coke plants and 50 units applied for CTEs.
The statement said the ECC has time and again demanded punitive measures against these 29 coke plants whose applications have been rejected on different grounds.
The ECC observed that the illegality will not stop until the plants are dismantled and destroyed, because there is involvement of bureaucrats and political leaders among others.
It said that till date no cases have been initiated before any court of law by the government against these coke plants except the nine filed last year by deputy commissioner C E Kharmalki.
The Environment Coordination Committee said that last year a surprise inspection was conducted by Kharmalki along with the members of the ECC during which it was found that the two coke plants — Syrpailang Coke and Jaintia Coke — in Sookilo village did not comply with the conditions stipulated in the CTO.