Shillong, April 3: The Jaintia Youth Federation today urged the Meghalaya government to close down the cement plants operating in Jaintia Hills district.

The federation, through a petition submitted to chief minister Mukul Sangma, asked the government to take action in accordance with the Comptroller and Auditor-General’s report.

The CAG report for the 2010-11 fiscal says not only are the cement factories operating without the Centre’s approval, lack of will on part of the state government to keep their operations in abeyance till the net present value (NPV) was recovered, had led to a revenue loss of Rs 43.45 crore. NPV is the monetary worth of forest land diverted for non-forest purposes.

The CAG report says since the eight cement companies are located well inside forest areas, NPV money had to be obtained from these companies. Besides, not one of them has received forest clearance.

“We have presented this issue at several fora but it appears that the cement lobby and forest officials are too strong for us. Therefore, we request you to get our grievances redressed,” the federation’s president, Poipynhun Majaw, said in the petition.

He said the areas where the plants were located were connected with Narpuh reserve forest.

He also said though the cement factories were getting subsidies, the cost of cement per bag was around Rs 300 in the state, which ordinary people could not afford.

“It has been brought to our notice that cement price in Delhi without subsidy is much cheaper,” he added.

Later, speaking to reporters, he said the cement companies should be immediately closed down and the government should make efforts to recover an NPV of Rs 43.45 crore.

The CAG report also reprimands the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board for failing to check contamination.

The federation urged the government to take steps to curb air and water pollution.

Last week, a division bench of Gauhati High Court had directed the state government to state what steps it had initiated to check air, water and waste pollution.

The court expressed grave concern on the issue of pollution, especially on the condition of water bodies in the state where, according to the CAG report, 28 out of 31 water bodies in six districts were found to be unfit for drinking.