Case dropped against LafargeHolcim's mining in East Khasi hills

The Meghalya High Court dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) against LafargeHolcim as being 'totally without merit' and 'tainted with ill design' against the company's mining of limestone in the land bordering Nongtrai and Shella, India, near the Bangladesh border.

While the PIL had been pending since 2007, the Shella Action Committee (SAC) could not produce one land owner who was affected, after the land was transferred, sold or leased out in favour of Lafarge.

The SAC had filed the PIL against the then Lafarge's Lum Mawshun Minerals Pvt Ltd, Lafarge Umiam Mining Pvt Ltd registered in India and Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd, based in Bangladesh, alleging that the companies had denied revenue due to the state and ignored mining rules.

After considering the matter, the court said it had arrived at a conclusion that the petitioner had filed the PIL without any substantial basis.