BYRNIHAT : Residents of Lower Balian village in the Byrnihat area of Ri-Bhoi district on Tuesday staged a strong protest against Shyam Century Ferrous Limited, accusing the company of continuing illegal coal handling operations despite the factory being officially sealed.
Men, women, elders, and youths from the locality gathered near the factory premises holding placards and raising slogans against the company. The protesters also strongly criticised the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), alleging that the department has failed to conduct proper ground inspections and has remained inactive despite severe pollution affecting the Byrnihat region.
According to the residents, dozens and sometimes hundreds of trucks are allegedly seen entering and exiting the sealed factory regularly, raising serious questions about enforcement. They claimed that heavy coal dust emissions from the site have caused severe environmental and health concerns in the area.
The protesters further alleged that the factory is operating without the consent of the local shnong, without a valid trading licence, and without proper environmental clearances, even though a notice stating “Plant Closed” is displayed at the entrance.
Before the protesters reached the site, the factory gate was reportedly locked from inside, with police personnel from Byrnihat present at the location. Despite repeated requests from the public to open the gate, no factory officials came forward.
Left with no option, the protesters forced open the gate and entered the premises. They gave the factory management 10 minutes to produce valid documents authorising the storage and handling of coal at the site. However, when the officials failed to present any documents, the public re-sealed the gate themselves, reiterating their demand for strict action.
The incident has once again highlighted growing public anger over industrial pollution, weak enforcement, and lack of accountability in the Byrnihat industrial belt.