Meghalaya High Court rejects petition on public notice by MSPCB concerning proposed Limestone Project in EJH

SHILLONG

The Meghalaya High Court, on Thursday, rejected the petition challenging the public notice issued by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board for holding of a public hearing on November 23 on the proposed Limestone and Shale Mining Project at Brishyrnot, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya by M/S Star Cement Meghalaya Limited.

One Shanialang Suchen filed a petition before the High Court against the Government of Meghalaya challenging the Public Notice dated October 16, 2020, published by the MPSCP.

The petition came up before the bench of Justice W. Diengdoh, Meghalaya High Court today.

The petitioner Shanialang Suchen challenged the holding of a public hearing in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, and that only 100 people have been allowed to take part in the public hearing.

In response, the Advocate General (AG), Government of Meghalaya, Amit Kumar informed the court that the public hearing for the said mine was earlier attempted but because of an unruly crowd the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills on both occasions had to postpone the public hearing.

Advocate General Amit Kumar also informed the court that the petitioner should attend the public hearing and submit his objections/suggestions in the public hearing itself.

The Advocate General further informed the court that if the total number of persons exceeds 100, then the next batch of 100 persons could participate in the public hearing which will be held on the same day and at the same venue after completion of the first public hearing.

So the number of people wanting to take part in the public hearing is in batches of 100 persons and not restricted to 100 persons only.

(Edited by Andre Kongri)