Shillong: Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday defended the proposed public hearing for Shree Cement’s limestone mining project at Lum Syrman in East Jaintia Hills, maintaining that the hearing is a mandatory legal process and not an indication that the project has already received government approval.
On Thursday afternoon police fired tear gas shells and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse protesters in East Jaintia Hills, where demonstrators had blocked roads leading to the public hearing venue demanding that the hearing be postponed. Police later moved in to clear the blockade, using tear gas and batons to disperse the crowd. Videos from the scene showed people running as police chased groups of protesters, while several vehicles caught near the protest site were also affected during the operation.
There was no immediate official confirmation on the number of people injured or detained. The district administration had stepped up security ahead of Friday’s public hearing amid fears of unrest.
Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said the state government has directed the district administration to remain proactive in maintaining law and order.
“We have instructed the district administration to be more proactive in handling the situation.”
He noted that while there has been vocal opposition to the project, there is also significant local support for it.
“If you look at only one side of the story, you will feel that people are opposing it. But if you look at the other side, there is also massive demand that the project should come up. It is not only demands for cancellation; there is also strong support for the project.”
The Deputy Chief Minister stressed that the environmental public hearing is a statutory requirement under India’s environmental clearance process and is intended to gather public opinion before any decision is taken.
“The public hearing is mandatory because it is through the hearing itself that we can decide the next step.”
Responding to concerns raised by environmental groups and local organisations, Tynsong said the government shares those concerns but insisted that environmental safeguards cannot be compromised.
“There are people talking about environmental issues, but we are equally concerned. These issues are being looked after not only by the state government but also by the Central Government. The law governing environmental clearance is very strong and clear. We cannot bend a single clause, and all legal provisions have to be complied with.”
Highlighting the economic dimension of the proposal, Tynsong said several residents of East Jaintia Hills have sought the establishment of more cement industries in the district, citing the benefits experienced in villages where such industries already operate.
“The locals themselves have urged for more cement companies to be set up because they have seen the benefits. Village committees have informed me that they receive maximum benefits from these industries. The companies work in tandem with the Dorbar Shnong and contribute to several developmental programmes undertaken by the village authorities.”
Tynsong reiterated that the government’s immediate concern is ensuring peace during the hearing.
“My only concern is law and order, and we have instructed the district administration to ensure that peace is maintained.”
On allegations that police used excessive force during the protests, the Home Minister said he has not yet received the official report.
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“I am yet to get the report on whether there was any excess use of force.”
The public hearing, scheduled for Friday, is being conducted as part of the environmental clearance process for Shree Cement Limited’s proposed Lum Syrman Limestone Block-A mining project in Elaka Nongkhlieh, East Jaintia Hills. The proposal has sparked sharp divisions, with several local residents and community organisations opposing the project over concerns about its environmental impact and implications for local communities, while others have backed it, citing employment opportunities and economic benefits.
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