Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Thursday said the Meghalaya government was not attempting to force the proposed Shree Cement limestone mining project in East Jaintia Hills, maintaining that the ongoing public hearing process itself reflected transparency and public consultation.
SHILLONG : Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has rejected allegations that the state government is trying to push the proposed Shree Cement limestone mining project at Lum Syrman without public consent.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Friday’s public hearing, Tynsong said the process was being conducted under legal environmental procedures and intended to give local residents and stakeholders an opportunity to express their views openly.
“The purpose of the public hearing is to allow people to speak, raise objections and place their concerns on record,” he said.
The proposed limestone mining project in East Jaintia Hills has triggered debate in recent weeks, with pressure groups and local organisations raising environmental and livelihood concerns linked to mining activities in the region.
Tynsong, however, argued that opposing the hearing itself contradicts the purpose of public consultation mandated under environmental laws.
“If the government wanted to impose the project by force, there would have been no public hearing at all,” he stated.
He said the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board is legally required to organise public hearings before projects of such nature can proceed further.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the hearing remains the appropriate platform for people to officially register objections, suggestions and environmental concerns related to the project.He also questioned the need for protests outside government offices when a formal process already exists for public participation.
“Whenever there is confusion or concern, the government remains open to discussion. We have nothing to hide,” Tynsong said.
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He appealed to groups opposing the project not to misunderstand the legal process and urged all stakeholders to participate peacefully in the hearing.
The proposed mining project has become one of the most closely watched industrial developments in East Jaintia Hills, where debates around mining, environmental protection and local livelihoods continue to remain politically and socially sensitive.