By Guiding Star, Locals have come out in opposition against the new cement factory plant by June Industry Ltd, near Maekayo Village, Kyaikmayaw Township,
If any locals were against the cement factory’s construction, they were allowed to submit an opposition letter by December 5. If the deadline passed and no one sent a letter of opposition, the project would proceed, according to the announcement released by Land Management and Record Department of Kyaikmayaw Township on November 6.
“They did not send the announcement letter directly to us. We only got this letter after we asked around. They are afraid to send this letter to us, and so they sent the letter to another village [Haloe Zin Kon Village], instead. And, we only got to know about this announcement when the locals from that village gave the letter to us,” said Nai Aung Thant Tin, former chairman of the Village Land Committee and resident of Maekayo Village.
According to the opposition letters submitted by the locals to Land Management and Record Department of Kyaikmayaw Township on December 2, the construction of the cement factory would cause environmental impacts and agriculture defects as well as health problems and social issues.
The letter went on to state that the cement factory would also damage the ancient pagodas and stupas in the caves of Maekayo and Pya mountains. Local school buildings, houses, and monasteries would also be affected because factory would also excavate limestone in the mountains.
The will also be opposition to the building of housing projects on the farmland where the cement factory is to be constructed, according to locals.
“We submitted opposition letters on December 2. Then, on December 3, the representatives from the company came to meet us. They asked us that we submit the letters and request us to take back the letters. But I said this opposition letter is from the voices and desires of the locals. It is not from me only. We submit the letter as per the wishes of the locals, so it’s impossible to take the letter back,” said Nai Shwe Win, villager of Maekayo Village, explaining how the June Industries Co., Ltd representatives came to discuss the issue with him.
The June Industries Co., Ltd bought the farmland for the cement factory in 2010, and it also promised that within 3 years after land purchase, it would construct the factory. If construction did not happen after 3 years, the farmland would be then given back to the owners.
“Now, it’s 5 years already. Yet, they [June Industry Ltd] have not yet constructed anything. When they discussed about this project, there were local authorities, including Township Vice-Administrator,” said Nai Aung Thant Tin.
Aside from the cement project by June Industry Ltd, there is another cement factory, in Kyaikmayaw Township, and it is under operation by the Mawlamyine Cement Limited (MCL).
About 262.32 acres of farmland, which is located between Maekayo Village and Kawpanaw Village, is allocated for the June Industry Ltd cement factory.
