Shillong, Dec 2: The Environment Coordination Committee (ECC) has decided to hit the street on December 15, to protest against the state government’s failure to comply with direction passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the coke plants established in areas under the Elaka Sutnga in East Jaintia Hills District.
In a statement issued on Friday, the ECC said that the protest rally will be held from 1 kilo to the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Khliehriat, the district headquarter.
The NGT had passed its judgment on July 8, following a case filed by the ECC through one Pynbait Sutnga against the establishment of the coke plants in the Elaka Sutnga.
The NGT had directed the State government through Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to collect fines that have been imposed against the 31 coke plants for establishing without the Consent to Established (CoE) and this amounting to Rs 5.5 cores approximately.
The green tribunal had also directed the state government to frame the action plant against the coke plants that have obtained the CTOs prior to the notification of the sitting norms on 23-12-2020. The same is directed to comply with the sitting norm even though CTO is obtained before the notification date.
In this regard the NGT have given a time frame for the government to complete the accumulation of the entire fine and to frame the action plan within the periods of 4 months from the time of passing the judgment.
“However, even after the expiry of four month that is on November 8, the government is silent, therefore the government failed to comply with the direction given in the judgment,†the ECC said.
Stating that it had met the deputy chief minister and many concerned departments of the state to enquire about the action plan for implementing the NGT ruling, the ECC however said there was absolutely no fruitful outcome came out of such meetings.
Accusing the state government of totally ignoring the people of Elaka Sutnga and the district as a whole, the committee said, “Also the government or the concerned ministers have failed to serve the people and failed to respect the life of the citizens of the District, even the NGT condemned the State for not paying attention and fail to protect the lives of the Citizen. We see the government has turned deaf to the people of the district.â€
“Despite several meetings with the government NO positive outcome and even with this fight in the NGT, the government is not complying with the direction. The ECC and the people of Elaka Sutnga have no option but to come out on the street again to strongly protest this irresponsible government,†it further stated.
