On Lafarge Suma’s land acquisition complaint has been assessed by CAO
An objection is filed against Lafarge Suma Cement’s ,land acquisition and limestone quarrying operation close to villages of Shella and Tynger in Meghalaya is been assessed by the compliance advisor/ombudsman (CAO).
According to an independent recourse mechanism for projects supported by the World Bank Group i.e. CAO, last year in January, a complaint was filed by a number of individuals in the state on the Indian side of the project.
It alleged, in January 2014, CAO found the complaint eligible for further assessment and has begun conversations with the key party’s .An assessment of the case is ongoing.
For the building and operation of an integrated cement plant in Bangladesh which is very close to the border with Meghalaya, from where the limestone is sourced, IFC, the World Bank arm, partly financed a project with Lafarge Surma Cement.
It said the concern of the project is about the legality of the land acquisition and use process for the project’s limestone quarrying operation close to the villages of Shella and Tynger in Meghalaya.
CAO said, as per the complaint, Khasi indigenous people have been dispossessed from their land, not only this livelihood has been impacted, and their regular land rights and systems have not been respected.
Located in Meghalaya, A limestone quarrying and crushing operation which serves the cement plant and the two centres of operations are connected by an overhead belt conveyor.
In 1998, IFC approved an A loan of $ 35 million, a B Loan of up to $ 10 million and equity of $ 10 million and invested the same in 2003.
Source: Economic Times
Bangladesh, business complaint, CAO, IFC, Khasi indigenous people, Lafarge Suma, land acquisition, Limestone quarrying operation, Meghalaya, Shella, Tynger, World Bank Group
