Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Mar 09: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia Garo People (FKJGP) Jaintia Hills Unit has alleged that Amrit Cements Industries Limited has violated the Forest Conversation Act.
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Tuesday Lytep president of FKJGP Jaintia Hills unit, said that the federation was deeply concerned at the lackadaisical attitude of the district council. “How can the district council issue a No Objection Certificate to the cement plant when it knew about its location,” Lytep queried.

Interestingly, one of the clauses of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) says that “No trees should be felled down within the area of the land without prior written order or permission of the Chief Forest Officer of this District Council.”
The FKJGP unit has claimed that trees lined on the approach road of the cement plant site have been indiscriminately felled.  
The unit president alleged, “More than one kilometre long road has been constructed by felling trees through pristine forest areas affecting the different wildlife that are dependent on the forest.”
On Tuesday, the FKJGP Jaintia Hills unit submitted a memorandum to the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Lytep has also urged the government not to grant more NOCs to new cement plants in the district. “Cement plants are environmentally hazardous. The government should ensure that our ecology is not destroyed by allowing them to function,” he said, adding, “Our legislators should have the vision and foresight so that the future generations are saved from destruction.”
Meanwhile, the FKJGP has decided to strongly oppose the setting up of new cement plants in the state for the environmental degradation it may cause.