Women of Nongkhlieh Elaka petition the CM over Lafarge plant
The women of Elaka Nongkhlieh today filed a petition with the Chief Minister of Meghalaya urging him not to permit Lafarge India Pvt Ltd to carry on with its plans of setting up of a Cement Manufacturing Unit and Mining Activity in the area.
THE PEOPLE of Nongkhlieh Elaka have sent numerous petitions to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, Jowai, voicing their protest against Lafarge India Pvt Ltd. On March 25 this year, a petition was filed with the chief executive member, JHADC, demanding the council not to issue a no objection certificate to the company. The council, however, went ahead and issued it on November 8 last. In August 29, 2010, a complaint was filed with the JHADC executive member in-charge Land and Revenue, demanding him to stop the council’s land measurements meant for patta. On Thursday, the womenfolk of the locality went a step further, submitting a petition to Chief Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma, requesting him to take immediate action against the plans of Lafarge. "The Executive Committee led by Hambertus Nongtdu has made its intention very clear to give the NOC to Lafarge India Pvt Ltd to set up its cement plant, carry out mining activities and land transfer," said the petition. The petition said that the people of area Nongkhlieh are a peaceful farming community, who depend on the forest and agricultural lands for livelihood and everyday needs. "The people of Nongkhlieh area are among the few who understand that mining can only lead to the death of our land and our people and till date, we have opposed any mining proposals by any individual or companies. Our lives are not without hardships but the strength and unity of our community has seen us through many challenges. "Recently this unity and peace is being corrupted with the greed fed by Lafarge," said the petition. It may be mentioned that the proposed plant will take up about 500 hectares of community land including forest, grazing lands and agricultural lands. "Our land is as important as the air we breathe. We will cease to exist without it," said the petition. "The transferring of our lands to Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd. by the dalloi of Nongkhlieh area and the JHADC has been undemocratically and forcefully done without the consent of the people of Nongkhlieh area. "This has led to some violent incidents in some of our villages as the minor pro-Lafarge group is carrying out intimidation tactics against the majority who are against Lafarge," the statement said.
"As women and mothers of Nongkhlieh area, we do not wish to see our sons, brothers and husbands lose their lives over this transgression by the dolloi, the JHADC and Lafarge," it added.
The petition filed on Thursday contained about 500 signatures from women inhabiting different villages in the area. It may be mentioned here that out of the 10 villages, nine are against Lafarge. They are Daistong, Loomthari, Khaidong, Chnong Thymme, Chnong Rim, Moolasngi, LoomTongseng, Loom Bangla and Bomkhoosngi. The dolloi’s secretary, Planning Bareh, along with some others, had on Wednesday last said that the NOC given to Lafarge was done after taking a collective decision at the dorbar and that the area has signed a 30-point memorandum of understanding taking into consideration environmental factors, employment opportunities and development of infrastructure. The group accompanied the dalloi also said that locals would enjoy the benefit of supply of stone chips and limestone at 40 percent of the company’s total requirements. They would also receive preference in contract works and added that the area would receive Rs 5 crore per year from the company, the amount of which would be equally distributed to the households. The amount would accordingly be revised after every three years or so. At the time of issue of the MoU, an advance of Rs 4 lakh was paid. Prior to that, five high officials of the company arrived at the area on March 12, they informed. Copies of the petition by the womenfolk were also sent to Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of Envirnment and Forest, secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, minister in-charge Mining and Mineral Resource, Government of Meghalaya, and minister in-charge Forest, Government of Meghalaya. The letter was also forwarded to various environmental organisations including the Center for Science and Environment, Green Peace India, MC Mehta Environmental Foundation, Dr. Jayant Biswas, president, National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India.
"As women and mothers of Nongkhlieh area, we do not wish to see our sons, brothers and husbands lose their lives over this transgression by the dolloi, the JHADC and Lafarge," it added.
The petition filed on Thursday contained about 500 signatures from women inhabiting different villages in the area. It may be mentioned here that out of the 10 villages, nine are against Lafarge. They are Daistong, Loomthari, Khaidong, Chnong Thymme, Chnong Rim, Moolasngi, LoomTongseng, Loom Bangla and Bomkhoosngi. The dolloi’s secretary, Planning Bareh, along with some others, had on Wednesday last said that the NOC given to Lafarge was done after taking a collective decision at the dorbar and that the area has signed a 30-point memorandum of understanding taking into consideration environmental factors, employment opportunities and development of infrastructure. The group accompanied the dalloi also said that locals would enjoy the benefit of supply of stone chips and limestone at 40 percent of the company’s total requirements. They would also receive preference in contract works and added that the area would receive Rs 5 crore per year from the company, the amount of which would be equally distributed to the households. The amount would accordingly be revised after every three years or so. At the time of issue of the MoU, an advance of Rs 4 lakh was paid. Prior to that, five high officials of the company arrived at the area on March 12, they informed. Copies of the petition by the womenfolk were also sent to Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of Envirnment and Forest, secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, minister in-charge Mining and Mineral Resource, Government of Meghalaya, and minister in-charge Forest, Government of Meghalaya. The letter was also forwarded to various environmental organisations including the Center for Science and Environment, Green Peace India, MC Mehta Environmental Foundation, Dr. Jayant Biswas, president, National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India.
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