The expert committee on mining has said in its compliance report that the impact of mining by Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Ltd (LUMPL) in Meghalaya has been “very positive and beneficial” for the local populace.
“The impact of mining in the surrounding villages of Nongtrai and Shella (especially Nongtrai) was found very positive and beneficial to the residents due to the huge amount of cash going to the ‘village durbar’ and reaching to individual households, improving the financial health of the population of the villages,” stated the report of the committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
LUMPL, a subsidiary company of Lafarge Surma Cement, Bangladesh, is a joint venture between Lafarge SA and Cementos Molins. LUMPL is procuring limestone from Meghalaya and sending it to the cement plant in Bangladesh through a conveyor belt.
The Nongtrai Limestone Mine is located at Nongtrai village under Shella confederacy, tehsil Sohra, east Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. Mining operartions were stopped recently following a Supreme Court order February 5 2010.
On 26 March, 2010, the attorney general submitted before the apex court that mining operations should be allowed to continue in view of the international agreements between India and Bangladesh.
The attorney general also suggested conditions that could be imposed on LUMPL to start mining operations on March 29.The next date of hearing is on April 12 .
LUMPL said in a statement that it was “pleased that the Supreme Court has set an early date for hearing”.
“We hope for a speedy resolution of the matter in the best interest of all stakeholders.”
The committee met the local population and institutions and members of the Church. The report said, “The local population and institutions do not have any problem/grievances with LUMPL and they want that mining should be allowed to take place and requested the government of India to give all clearance needed for the same”.
“Mining is not having any discernible adverse effect on human health. Samples of water, ambient air quality and stack emissions from crushing units were examined while the mine was in operation and all the parameters were within the prescribed limits,” it added.
The committee, comprising B N Jha, RCCP North Eastern Regional Office of the ministry and other senior officials, made suggestions to explore the use of surface miners, preparation of comprehensive biodiversity conservation plan and monitoring of ambient air quality as per the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
