Shillong, Aug 30: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Commerce & Industries, Sniawbhalang Dhar, on Friday said 11 out of 15 cement plants have set up their factory in their own land. According to him, the government will soon start the process of verification in respect to the setting up of 15 out of 17 coke oven plants in the state.
He was replying to a zero hour notice brought by opposition VPP legislator from North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum, in the Assembly in regards to cement companies that are running their factory/or mining site on land held in the name of the tribal local Director of the company and the total number of coke oven plants that are running their factory on land held in the name of the tribal local partner of the partnership firm.
“Out of the 15 cement plants, 11 cement plants (Star Cement Ltd, Meghalaya Cement Ltd, Amrit Cement Ltd, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd, Green Valley Industries Ltd, Hills Cement Company Ltd, Star Cement Meghalaya Ltd, Megha Technical & Engineers Pvt Ltd, Jaintia Cement Ltd, JUD Cement Ltd, Goldstone Cements Ltd) have set up their factory in their own land,” Dhar said.
He said, “3 cement plants – Mawmluh Cherra Cements Ltd, Virgo Cements Ltd and Billenniun Cements Ltd – have taken land on lease from private landowner and 1 cement plant RNB Cements Pvt Ltd has set up factory on land leased out by Commerce & Industries department.”
He said of the 15 cement plants, ten – M/s Star Cement Ltd, M/s Meghalaya Cement Ltd, M/s Amrit Cement Ltd, M/s Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd, M/s Green Valley Industries Ltd, M/s Hills Cement Company Ltd, M/s Star Cement Meghalaya Ltd, M/s Megha Technical & Engineers Pvt Ltd, M/s Jaintia Cement Ltd and M/s Goldstone Cements Ltd – are functional and are located in East Jaintia Hills District and one (M/s RNB Cements Ltd) is located in Ri Bhoi District.
There are four cement plants which are not functioning as of today. They are M/s JUD Cements Ltd (East Jaintia Hills), M/s Virgo Cements Ltd (North Garo Hills District), M/s Virgo Cements Ltd (North Garo Hills) and M/s Mawmluh Cherra Cements Ltd (East Khasi Hills).
Further, Dhar informed that out of the 17 coke oven plants that are functioning, 2 plants (Abhi Coke Pvt Ltd & Jaintia Coke Pvt Ltd) have set up in their own land.
“Verification in respect of the balance 15 coke oven plants will be initiated soon,” he added.
