Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on August 26 ordered a status quo on the proposed cement plant in East Jaintia Hills district after meeting leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), which has raised objections to the project.
Sangma said a fact-finding committee would examine the KSU’s concerns over the public hearing process, stakeholder participation and environmental issues surrounding the proposed plant at Daistong village.
All work at the project site will remain suspended until the committee completes its inquiry and submits its report, the chief minister said.
“Till the committee completes its work, things will be on status quo. No further work will proceed, and everything will be stopped,” Sangma told reporters after the meeting.
The committee will be headed by a senior official who is independent of the district administration. Other members will be appointed to examine the issues raised by the KSU, including whether the public hearing was conducted according to procedure and whether all relevant stakeholders were consulted.
The panel will also look into environmental concerns flagged by the student organisation.