Nongtrai villagers come out to support Lafarge's operations

Online, April 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - A fact finding team came to the limestone quarry on the 2nd April 2010 and the Nongtari village on the 3rd April 2010. It was sent by the highest judiciary of India, the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the members of the team was Mr. B N Jha - PCCF of Environment and Forest, North Eastern Regional Office, Shri Katiyar also from MoEF and Shri S Sohtun from DMR.
It was heartening and pleasing to the people of Nongtrai village to see this fact finding team on 2nd April at the operation area of LUMPL and especially on 3rd April when they came to the village of Nongtrai. More than 700 people including men and women attended this meeting and shared facts about the benefits that they have received ever since this project was started. To elaborate, for the past 20-30 years the village of Nongtrai including entire Riwar region have fallen into a lot hardship. Our primary cultivation, which is areca nut and bettle leaf plantation, was affected by disease and plague. We couldn't protect our produce from the disease. This has lead to impoverishment of the local people. Many had to leave their village to go and work as menial laborers to other villages as they couldn't depend on their areca nut and bettle leaf plantation anymore. This disease is still affecting the plantations upto this very day.
It is a fact that two-thirds of the land that falls within the village of Nongtrai have limestone deposits. Such land cannot even be set foot upon and cannot be used for residential purpose or cultivation. These lands remain as they are without any benefit while the people of the village continue to live in poverty. What little border trade that was there has also gradually come to a stop over the years. We have experienced these great hardships for many years. When LUMPL started its limestone mining operations and export from our lands, which is only 100 hectares, we breathed a sigh of relief and ever since our livelihood and income level has greatly improved. Our people who left the village can now come back to reap this benefit together from this income generation from LUMPL.
LUMPL has not forced or snatched away even one inch of the limestone area that falls within the boundary of Nongtrai village. It started its operation according to the laid down regulations and agreements accepted, agreed and permitted by authorities at a district level, state level and the Central Government. Before all this was started a survey was conducted and thereafter a public hearing was held on 3rd June 1998 at the Shella market, which is 2 km from the project site. This hearing was conducted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and people from nearby villages also attended. There was no opposition or dissension from any of the people who attended that hearing. Therefore, the operation could be started.
The construction of approach roads and clearing of the bushes was started in the year 2000. The limestone could be mined and exported only from the year 2006. The order to stop the mining and export of the limestone in the year 2007 by the Ministry of Environment and Forest for almost 7 to 8 months has affected the people of the village very badly as well as the nearby village. When the interim relief was granted we saw hope for our future. However the order from the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 5th February was like a dark cloud making us lose hope in the face of this huge hurdle. Ever since, the villagers have shed sad tears constantly and this was witnessed on the 3rd of this month by the fact-finding team, which allowed men and women from the village to give their testimony about their opinion of LUMPL before the team.
We have seen in the news the opposition of the people from other places who are having a much better living in the town, who have interfered to point out the dryness of the environment and the rivers was because of the limestone mining of Lafarge at Nongtrai. Where do they focus their eyes and what do they see? Is it Lafarge that has stopped the southwest monsoon that has brought about dryness to the "Land of the Hynniewtrep?"
No one takes note of the limestone mining around Mawmluh, Mawsmai, Shella, Mawlong and other areas by individuals. If Lafarge or any other company involved in limestone mining is closed, who will take care, if thousands of people face starvation. The climate change, global warming in this area cannot be attributed to Lafarge. This is happening everywhere and many countries and organizations all over the world are working on this subject. In our area it was because of Lafarge's contribution that has brought people to an awareness to protect the environment. As precious creations of God we all have the right to live a life of dignity. Hence it can't be that some live in luxury while others face starvation. We can take care of ourselves and also to make provisions for our future generations since this is our responsibility.
Lafarge has not come to destroy anything in any part of our country. It has come to do business and in the process also bring benefits to the owners of the land, the neighbouring villages and the entire Khasi land and generate revenue to the District Councils, and the State of Meghalaya and foreign exchange earning to the Government of India. There are many development programs that have been implemented in our village like the village footpaths, drinking water supply, assistance to the schools, skills training through the weaving center, healthcare and others. Lafarge within a space of 3 to 4 years has managed to do all this. The company has provided jobs to the local villagers and also to the nearby village. The news report to oppose Lafarge can be considered to be sheer jealousy which is so common among our people.
To confirm on all that has been stated we would like to mention the coming of Lafarge to Nongtrai village is an opportunity to open ways and means so that people can be uplifted from their poverty. As we have stated in front of the fact finding teams on the 3rd of April 2010 we would like to stand by the same statement that "we do not want to be victims within our own land".