Mumbai: The proposed integrated cement project by Shree Cement Limited in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district has secured strong backing from community leaders and residents of Elaka Nongkhlieh, who voiced their support during the public hearing conducted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) on July 31. Speakers at the hearing cited the project’s potential to accelerate economic development and create employment opportunities for local youth across the region.

The public hearing, a statutory component of the environmental clearance process, gave residents a formal platform to record their views on the proposed Shree Cement plant and the associated limestone mining project. Several community leaders and villagers used the occasion to affirm their endorsement, positioning the local community as active participants in the region’s development trajectory.

Local Leaders Express Support for the Proposed Shree Cement Project

Mr. Willingson Sukhlain, former Secretary of Elaka Nongkhlieh, stated that supporting the proposed Shree Cement project would bring development to the Elaka and create employment opportunities for local youth. He also emphasised the importance of ensuring that environmental protection measures are properly maintained throughout the project’s implementation, underlining the community’s expectation of responsible execution alongside economic gain.

Mr. Nangiaid Pachiang, village headman of Bamkhosngi, stated that the people of Bamkhosngi Village support the public hearing conducted by the MSPCB. He described the region’s limestone resources as a blessing and said the proposed project could create employment opportunities for local youth, particularly at a time when government jobs are difficult to obtain. According to him, about 99 percent of the villagers of Bamkhosngi support the proposed Shree Cement project.

Mr. Pynpoibiang Dkhar, Waheh Shnong of Tongseng Nongkhlieh, said he strongly supports the proposed limestone mining project, expressing hope that it would help address unemployment by providing jobs and livelihood opportunities for the youth of the Elaka.

Mr. Fencing Bareh, General Secretary of the Elaka, stated that, according to him, the majority of the people of the Elaka have expressed support for the proposed project. He said he stands with the decision and the views of the people.

Mr. N. Sukhlain, Dolloi of Elaka Nongkhlieh, stated that the people of the Elaka had accepted the proposed Shree Cement project. He appealed to the company to begin its work at the earliest opportunity, expressing hope that the project would generate employment opportunities for local youth.

The convergence of views across the headman, the Waheh Shnong, the General Secretary, and the Dolloi indicates broad-based endorsement spanning multiple tiers of traditional community leadership in the Elaka.

A Track Record of Community Investment in Meghalaya

The support expressed at the public hearing comes against the backdrop of Shree Cement’s growing community engagement footprint in East Jaintia Hills. The company has undertaken a series of welfare initiatives in Meghalaya that reflect a sustained commitment to inclusive development.

Among the most prominent is a large-scale vision care programme conducted in partnership with the Vision Spring Foundation under the “See to Earn” model. Between May and June 2026, the initiative provided free eye screening and corrective eyewear to around 1,500 people across the district. The programme covered 742 men and 758 women through eye camps held in villages including Moolangsi, Loomthari, Tongseng, Bomkhosngi, Loomshyrngan, Daistong, Khaidong, Shnong Thymme, and Khliehriat.

Screening revealed that 953 beneficiaries, nearly 64 per cent of those examined, suffered from refractive errors or presbyopia. Of these, 936 people received corrective eyeglasses, including 87 pairs distributed immediately at the camps. The programme also referred 49 people for advanced treatment, including 16 suspected cataract cases and 33 others requiring specialised eye care. Beneficiaries reported meaningful improvements in reading, sorting grains, and using mobile phones after receiving their eyeglasses. Vision Spring’s quality assessment recorded an 84 per cent implementation score under supervision at Khaidong village.

Shree Cement has framed the programme as part of a wider effort to bring essential health services closer to underserved populations. Improved vision care is expected to enhance labour productivity, support education, and reinforce local economic participation across the district.

Green Growth and Water Stewardship at the Core of the Meghalaya Project

Alongside its social initiatives, Shree Cement has positioned the East Jaintia Hills project within a broader sustainability framework. The company has announced that the upcoming integrated cement manufacturing facility will incorporate advanced water stewardship and resource-efficient manufacturing practices aligned with India’s low-carbon development agenda.

The project is designed to operate on a 100 per cent Zero Liquid Discharge model, under which industrial wastewater will be treated and fully recycled for cooling, dust suppression, and greenbelt development, significantly reducing freshwater consumption. The facility will also deploy energy-efficient technologies and sustainable resource management systems based on circular economy principles from the initial phase of development.

The company has stated that its nationwide water management framework, covering efficient water use, large-scale rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and complete wastewater recycling, has enabled it to replenish substantially more water than it consumes. The company also plans to strengthen water resilience in communities around the Meghalaya project through conservation and replenishment initiatives.

Industry observers believe the Shree Cement project could improve Meghalaya’s attractiveness for future industrial investment, generate employment, support local businesses, and accelerate economic development without compromising environmental priorities. For the residents and leaders of Elaka Nongkhlieh, as reflected in their statements at the MSPCB public hearing, those prospects represent a tangible opportunity for the community’s future.