The Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited started mining of limestone at Phalangkaruh, Nongtrai in East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya after signing lease agreement with Shella Dorbar and on the basis of a letter issued by the concerned Divisional Forest Officer certifying that the mining area was non forest land.
Subsequently, during an inspection, by the officials of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment & Forests located in Shillong, it was noted that the mining area in fact was a forest land.
LUMPL were therefore, directed to stop mining and seek approval of the Central Government under the Forest (conservation) Act, 1980. The proposal received from the Government of Meghalaya seeking prior approval of the Central Government for limestone mining by LUMPL was processed and as per procedure, in vogue at that time, the positive recommendations dated 09.08.2007 of the Forest Advisory Committee, a statutory committee constituted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, were submitted to the Supreme Court of India with a copy to the Central Empowered Committee.
LUMPL requested the Supreme Court for modifications in the conditions and sought interim relief. The Supreme Court vide Order dated November 23rd 2007, as an interim measure, permitted LUMPL to continue limestone mining and asked certain information.
During one of the hearings in the case, the Supreme Court directed to stop mining. LUMPL to get certain studies on impact of mining on ecology of area etc conducted for its submission to the Court. The mater thus is in the Court.
Before issue of in-principal approval for diversion of 116.589 ha of forest land for lime stone mining & other ancillary activities in favor of LUMPL, the ministry of environment & forests constituted a team under the chairmanship of the regional chief conservator of forests, North Eastern Regional Office, Shillong to visit the site to obtain first hand information on the aspects such as assessment of compliance of conditions stipulated, impact of mining on forest and wildlife, quantity of limestone lying in the yard etc.
The promoter of the project is Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited having its registered office in Shillong, Meghalaya. It is fully owned by the Lafarge Surma Cement Limited incorporated in November 2007 in Bangladesh.
The promoter of the project has sought speedy clearance to its mining project to ensure supply of limestone to a cement plant set up by Lafarge Surma Cement Limited at Chhatak, Sylhet in Bangladesh.
With the approval of the Supreme Court vide its Order dated 12.04.2010, Ministry of Environment & Forests issued in-principal approval order for lime stone mining over the 116.589 ha. of forest land in line with the conditions prescribed by the CEC/ Supreme Court.
Approval to the said mining project is also important for sustaining friendly relations with the neighboring country, Bangladesh and it has ramifications on our external relations particularly, on different agreement with Bangladesh.
