Illegal coke factories in EJH have been shut down: James Sangma
The Forest and Environment Minister’s statement came a day after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) sought a reply from the state and central governments over the alleged setting up of several illegal coke factories in Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills.
SHILLONG:
Meghalaya Forest and Environment Minister James K Sangma, on December 14, said that the government has taken action against illegal coke factories in East Jaintia Hills, and they have been shut down by the district administration.
“We are very aware of illegal coke factories and those have been shut down,” said Sangma.
His statement came a day after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) sought a reply from the state and central governments over the alleged setting up of several illegal coke factories in Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills.
The NGT’s directive to both the centre and the state came following a petition filed by one Pynbait Sutnga on October 25, who alleged that several coke oven plants have been established in East Jaintia Hills that have violated environmental norms, causing serious harm to the people residing in the area.
Earlier, the NGT, through an order passed on December 9, had issued notice to five parties – the Meghalaya government, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), Deputy Commissioner, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), and directed them to file counter-affidavits within four weeks.
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