Shillong: The Ministry of Environment and Forest will decide the compensation that cement companies in Meghalaya`s Jaintia hills would have to pay for violation of the Forest and Conservation Act, 1980.
Action was under process as per provisions of the FC act which would be sent to the MoEF which would determine the amount of compensation to be paid by the cement companies, Forest and Environment Minister, Prestone Tynsong told the Assembly today.
He said the action was taken following a report submitted by a joint inspection team of the forest department to the Ministry of Environment and Forest that not less than 838 hectares where these cement factories were located were assessed as forest-land.
The report also mentioned that the status of the remaining 1140 hectare already acquired or being acquired by the cement companies was yet to be determined.
The minister said that a joint inspection team was on the job to inspect the 1140 hectare and the government would take action after it submitted its report.
He was replying to a cut motion moved by the HSPDP legislator from Nongkrem, Ardent Basaiawmoit here. It was rejected.
PTI
