A public hearing on a proposed Rs 1,800 crore integrated cement plant and limestone mining project in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district was called off on Friday following protests by a section of local residents.
During the unrest, unidentified miscreants set a stationary truck on fire at some distance from the hearing venue. Police said the truck was empty and had no occupants at the time of the incident.
A brief standoff also took place at the public hearing site between one group supporting the project and another opposing it. The tension came a day after clashes between the two sides near the office of the district magistrate left two people injured.
Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania said the hearing had to be cancelled because one group prevented the proceedings from continuing and demanded that the programme be stopped.
“There are two groups. One supports the project while the other opposes it. The opposing group did not allow the project presentation to proceed, forcing authorities to call off the hearing,” Rasgania said.
He added that police would investigate the arson incident to identify those responsible.
Local residents have been opposing the project over issues related to land compensation and environmental concerns.
Recently, around 60 villagers moved the Meghalaya High Court challenging the project, claiming that the land earmarked for the project was under their use and occupation. They had also sought a stay on the public hearing.
However, the High Court declined to entertain the plea and advised the petitioners to submit their objections and supporting documents before the authorities during the public hearing process.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday stated that the purpose of the hearing was to allow all stakeholders to express their views. Rejecting allegations that the government was imposing the project, he said a public hearing would not have been organised if such was the intention.
The project is being developed by Shree Cement at Daistong village in East Jaintia Hills district. It will have a clinker production capacity of 0.95 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) and a cement production capacity of 0.99 MTPA. The project is expected to be completed by March 2028.
Besides local residents, opposition party Voice of the People Party (VPP) has also opposed the project, insisting that all development activities must follow proper procedures and respect public sentiment.