WPEG urges MoEF to impose ban on mining in Meghalaya

Shillong, Oct 3 (UNI) The Wildlife and Environment Protection Group (WEPG) today urged the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to issue a blanket ban on limestone mining in Meghalaya.

''The mushrooming of cement factories and random limestone mining has affected the caves systems while monolith rocks are destroyed and it is also now almost barren,'' the WPEG said in a letter to the Union Environment Secretary.

Urging the Centre to impose a blanket ban on limestone mining and prohibit the state government from issuing fresh license or permission for setting up of cement plants in the state, the environmental protection group noted Jaintia Hills is identified as an 'ecological hotspot'.

The WEPG also alleged that there had been huge deaths of fishes in the rivers in Jaintia hills due to toxic wastes from the cement plants.

UNI