GUWAHATI: Residents from the villages of Dikchak, Chamatapathar, Kapalkata, Kasutoli, and Sonapur have filed a formal complaint with the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). The grievance pertains to alleged procedural violations by the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) Assam during a public hearing held on June 10, regarding the proposed 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) cement manufacturing plant by Taj Cement.
The villagers assert that the public hearing was scheduled 106 days after Taj Cement submitted its application, far exceeding the 45-day limit mandated by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006. This delay, they argue, compromises the integrity of the environmental assessment process.
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"Such delays undermine the integrity of the environmental assessment process,” emphasised Batem Ali, a petitioner from Kapalkata village. In addition, the petitioners claim that SPCB Assam did not adequately publicise the public hearing through local announcements.
This lack of communication allegedly prevented many residents from attending the hearing and voicing their concerns. “The lack of proper public announcements deprived many from my village of attending the hearing and voicing their grievances,” stated Maloti Das from Chamatapathar village.
A major point of contention is the accessibility of the Draft EIA report. Although the report was supposedly available at the Office of the President, Sonapur Gaon Panchayat, the office was inactive during the relevant period due to the end of the President's term earlier this year.
“This is a clear lapse in ensuring transparency and access to crucial information,” remarked Rakesh Hazarika, another petitioner. “The public cannot provide informed feedback if they do not have access to the Draft EIA document locally.”
In light of these issues, the petitioners are calling for immediate corrective action. They urge the SEIAA to investigate the alleged procedural lapses in the public hearing process and to re-conduct the hearing with sufficient notice and accessible Draft EIA documentation for all stakeholders. Additionally, they propose that SEIAA appoint another agency to replace SPCB Assam for conducting the new hearing.