HC refuses to stay public hearing for cement plant

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 20: The High Court of Meghalaya on Wednesday declined to stay the proposed public hearing scheduled for May 22 in connection with the proposed limestone mining project at Lum Syrman, Nongkhlieh Elaka in East Jaintia Hills by Shree Cements.

Hearing a writ petition filed by Bunlangki Sukhlain and 60 others, the Single Bench of Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew observed that the petitioners would be at liberty to place their objections and supporting materials before the authorities during the public hearing process.

The petitioners had challenged the proposed public hearing relating to the establishment of limestone mining in the area, contending that the project land is under their use and occupation and strongly objecting to any mining activity there.

Appearing for the petitioners, T.L. Jyrwa submitted that the Executive Summary prepared by the project proponent had wrongly described the land as barren land. He argued that the rights of the petitioners would be severely affected if the mining project proceeds and sought an interim stay on the public hearing.

However, Advocate General Amit Kumar, assisted by Additional Senior Government Advocate A.H. Kharwanlang, opposed the plea, arguing that the matter was still at a preliminary stage since the public notice issued by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board on April 17 had merely invited suggestions, comments and objections from affected persons and stakeholders.

The Advocate General further referred to an earlier order passed by the High Court on December 16, 2025 in WP(C) No. 684 of 2025 concerning the same project, wherein the court had refused to grant interim relief to stay a previous public hearing scheduled for December 19, 2025.

Senior advocate Nitish Mozika also supported the submissions made by the state and maintained that the petitioners could raise all objections during the public hearing.

After hearing the parties and examining the materials on record, the court noted that the public notice issued by the MSPCB had specifically invited objections and comments regarding the environmental aspects of the proposed project from all affected persons and stakeholders.

“In the considered view of this Court therefore, as the objection of the writ petitioners is also as to the status of the land contained in the Executive Summary, they shall be at liberty to present materials at the time of the public hearing which shall be taken into due consideration by the authorities, who are to decide the matter in accordance with law,” the court observed.

The court also stated that the petitioners would have recourse to alternative remedies if they had any issue concerning title and possession of the land in question.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on June 12.

VPP wants public hearing scrapped

The VPP’s East Jaintia Hills district committee staged a sit-in on Wednesday, demanding that the state government scrap the proposed mining project at Lumshyrman under (Contd on P-7)