Shillong, Feb. 10: The Meghalaya government today decided to take stringent action against those violating its ban on blasting operations at Lumshnong in Jaintia Hills district.

The government had ordered a probe following allegations by environmentalists and the local residents of Lumshnong that Krem Kotsati, the longest cave system of the country, was being destroyed by two cement factories that have come up in the vicinity.

The cement factories in the eye of a storm are the Cement Manufacturing Company Limited (CMCL) and the Meghalaya Cements Limited (MCL). The government had ordered suspension of blasting till the probe was completed.

However, the CMCL began commercial production today. A company press release stated that the ?first lot of production was sent to Kamakhya temple in Guwahati and churches in the nearby areas.? CMCL chairman Sajjan Bhajanka said the plant would ?contribute to the development of the area.?

A government spokesperson said a fact-finding team would be despatched to Lumshnong and ?if they detect that the ban on blasting was being flouted, strict action would be taken against the violators.?

Officials of both the CMCL and MCL claimed that they were ?yet to receive any government notification imposing a ban on blasting.?