Guwahati: On the eve of a crucial public hearing for a proposed cement plant in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, a Guwahati-based NGO has raised a series of environmental and safety concerns, urging authorities to include them in the official record.
The public hearing, to be conducted by the Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB) on March 6 in Umrangso, pertains to an integrated cement plant proposed by Ambuja Concrete North Private Limited, an Adani Group company, at Choto Lokhindong village.
The project includes an 8.0 MTPA clinker unit, a 3.0 MTPA cement unit, a 42 MW waste heat recovery system, and a 50 MW captive power plant.
Rakesh Hazarika, Director of the Global Pandemic Response Forum and Executive Director of the Centre for Efficient Governance, has written to Dima Hasao District Commissioner Munindra Nath Ngatey seeking clarity on multiple aspects of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
In his letter, Hazarika referred to provisions under the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, requesting that his queries be formally recorded and addressed during the public consultation process.
One key concern relates to the proximity of Lokhindong Nala, which the EIA report states is about 0.1 km from the proposed site. Hazarika has requested the exact measured distance between the plant boundary and the water body and whether this complies with siting guidelines for Red Category industries.
Given the region’s heavy annual rainfall of around 2,900 mm as per the EIA, he has questioned what flood risk or stormwater modelling has been conducted to ensure that cement dust, coal particles, and industrial runoff do not enter the nala during the monsoon.
He also sought details of safeguards to protect downstream villages and ecosystems dependent on the water source.
Water usage is another major issue. The proposed plant is expected to require approximately 4,500 cubic metres of water per day. Hazarika noted that the EIA does not clearly specify the final approved source of water and asked whether it will be drawn from a river, spring, or groundwater, and whether the necessary permissions have been obtained.
Referring to Central Groundwater Board reports, he pointed out that Dima Hasao’s geological formations allow limited groundwater recharge, estimated at around 12 per cent of rainfall, with water largely occurring as springs in hilly terrain.
He questioned the scientific basis on which the EIA assessed sustainable groundwater availability, especially in an area with fragile hydrogeology and limited monitoring stations.
The NGO also sought clarity on whether detailed hydrological studies were conducted to assess changes to the natural flow of Lokhindong Nala due to construction, land levelling, and drainage modifications.
Other concerns include the number and location of air quality monitoring stations used to prepare baseline environmental data, predicted increases in particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in nearby villages, and whether a cumulative environmental impact assessment has been carried out considering existing mining and power generation activities in the Umrangso region.
Hazarika further asked about traffic projections, including the expected number of heavy trucks entering and exiting the plant daily and the impact on local roads and safety. Given that Dima Hasao lies in a high seismic risk zone and features hilly terrain, he also questioned whether earthquake safety measures, landslide hazard assessments, and slope stability analyses have been undertaken.
The proximity of the project site to the Assam–Meghalaya inter-state border has also been flagged, with the NGO seeking clarification on potential cross-border environmental impacts and whether the Government of Meghalaya has been consulted.
“I request that these questions be recorded in the proceedings of the public hearing and addressed by the project proponent and relevant authorities,” Hazarika wrote, urging transparency and accountability in the decision-making process.
For residents of Umrangso and surrounding villages, the upcoming hearing represents more than a procedural step. Many see it as an opportunity to voice concerns about livelihoods, water security, and environmental safety in a district already marked by mining and industrial activity.
The response of authorities and the company at the hearing is likely to shape public perception of the project in the days ahead.