Shillong Oct 21: Hundreds of residents from six villages in East Jaintia Hills District on Saturday shows huge protest  against district authorities from conducting the public hearing on the expansion of limestone mining project of Star Cement at Brichyrnot area under Narpuh Elaka.

Protesters which  includs school students carrying placards and banners blocked the road and disallowed the Deputy Commissioner, FM Doph and officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) from holding the public hearing.

The protest was led by the 6 Shnong Wah Lukha Association backed by several NGOs which include Khasi Students’ Union, Jaintia Students’ Union, Jaintia Students’ Movement and STIEH.

The Star Cement Company has proposed to expand limestone mining from 9 metric tons to 20 metric tons per day, at 42.051 hectares of land in Brichyrnot.

“Conrad K Sangma please don’t preach environmental protection only in Shillong and destroying the environment in Narpuh Area”, “Save wildlife, wildlife will save you, animal big & small let’s save them all” – read some of the placards.

The 6-Shnong Wah Lukha Association had also threatened to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court against the move of the cement company to expand its mines at the village, which is located near the Narpuh wildlife sanctuary and Wah Lukha, a major river.

Terming the protest as an attempt to mislead the people, management representative of Star cement Devender Bansal said, “The protesters are trying to divert people’s mind. In fact it is legal mining (we are talking) and we are bounded by many provisions of the law.”

Bansal informed that a No-objection certificate was granted by the village dorbar of Brichyrnot and even the Dolloi of Narpuh Elaka. According to him, there are around 150 support letters.

Asked, he said that limestone mining will not damage the environment nor will it pollute the river unlike coal mining which is having high content of sulphur.

According to him, the project would benefit the people of Brichyrnot and the adjacent villages.