The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) has formally requested the intervention of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma regarding the proposed Lum Syrman Limestone Project of Shree Cement Limited in the East Jaiñtia Hills district. In a detailed memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on August 13, the council raised serious concerns about land rights, procedural fairness in public consultations, and the overall economic impact of the 217.394-hectare industrial development on local farmers and landowners.
Objections Raised Over Public Hearing Procedures
Central to the organization's representation is a demand for a comprehensive review of the public hearing conducted on July 31. The JNC questioned whether all affected landholders, traditional cultivators, and local stakeholders were given a genuine opportunity to participate and voice their concerns. The council requested government officials to examine the complete record of the proceedings, including official attendance sheets, written objections, filed complaints, and complete video documentation. JNC asserted that if any significant procedural deficiencies or irregularities are discovered during this review, the state authorities must invalidate the previous exercise and organize a fresh public hearing.
Land Rights Verification and Farmer Protection
Beyond procedural scrutiny, the JNC urged state authorities to verify all claims concerning land ownership, physical possession, customary community rights, ongoing agricultural practices, and genuine landowner consent before allowing the project to advance further along the statutory approval process. To safeguard local residents, the council demanded interim protective measures for affected landholders and agriculturalists to prevent potential intimidation, unlawful dispossession, or physical obstruction. Furthermore, the organization emphasized the urgent necessity for a time-bound official assessment to evaluate how the proposed limestone mining might disrupt agricultural activities and rural livelihoods across the district.
Five-Day Deadline and Afforestation Demands
The council has established a strict five-day deadline for the Meghalaya government to initiate preliminary administrative measures. Should the state administration fail to respond within this timeframe, the JNC warned that it may organize peaceful democratic protests, including public mobilizations and widespread agitation across the region.
In a second memorandum submitted simultaneously, the JNC addressed environmental concerns related to the proposed High Speed Corridor project. The organization highlighted that while substantial forest tracts in East Jaiñtia Hills have historically been cleared for mining operations, cement manufacturing plants, and highway construction, compensatory afforestation efforts have consistently failed to materialize within the district itself. To rectify this ecological imbalance, the council urged the state government to identify and designate adequate replacement land inside East Jaiñtia Hills specifically dedicated to compensatory tree planting for all forest areas diverted by the corridor project.
