Forest and Environment Minister Dr R C Laloo said the committee was constituted as per the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court.
''The government had received a letter from the Centre questioning the No Objection Certificate issued to the eight cement plants operating in Jaintia Hills without getting environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment,'' the Minister told Assembly yesterday.
Dr Laloo, however, said according to the JHADC, which issued the NOC, the cement plants were operating in non-forest areas.
Earlier, the Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma demanded issuing closure notice to those cement plants which were operating in violation of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Mr Sangma also demanded from the government for constitution of a probe committee to probe the whole episode.