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PIL against cement companies for violating Forest Act

Jun, 27 2012

(India)  --  The Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF) has filed a PIL in the apex court of India, the Supreme Court, for "gross violation" of Forest Act, 1980, by cement companies in Jaintia Hills in the state of Meghalaya, India.

The cement companies have taken the forest areas on lease from local tribals for limestone mining.

The Chief Justice of Supreme Court, in his ruling on April 16, 2012, disposed of the PIL with provision for JYF to file the petition in an appropriate court first. The JYF then filed a fresh PIL in Gauhati high court, seeking injunction against carrying on work for establishing and operating limestone mines in violation of FC Act, 1980 and Supreme Court ruling on TN Godavarman versus Union of India, State of Meghalaya and nine cement companies.

The nine cement companies include Star Cement, Topcem, Taj Cement, Best Cement, Green Valley Industries (P) Limited, Amrit Cement Industries Limited, Adhunik Cement Limited, Cosmos Cement Limited and Goldstone Cement.

Chief Justice AK Goel and Justice N Kotiswar Singh have directed the Union ministry of environment and forests, to look into the matter relating to alleged violation of law and to take steps in the matter within three months besides submitting a report to court.

The next hearing on the case is on October 10.

The JYF also pointed out that the Union minister of Environment and forests had stated in Parliament that violation of FC Act, 1980, by cement plants in Jaintia Hills, has indeed taken place.

By: Rashmi Kalia (ARI-C NEWS)

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