Correspondent
SHILLONG, JUL 6: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has urged the Meghalaya government and the state’s three autonomous district councils (ADCs) to adopt resolutions opposing uranium mining and the sale of land in uranium-rich areas of Domiasiat in South West Khasi Hills district.
KSU president Raymond Kharjana alleged that some influential individuals, including a former legislator from Ri-Bhoi district, were attempting to acquire land in Domiasiat with the intention of selling it to mining companies in the future.
“We strongly demand that the state government adopt a resolution in the upcoming autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly opposing uranium mining and the sale of land in uranium-rich areas of Domiasiat and its adjoining villages,” Kharjana said.
He also appealed to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), and Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to pass similar resolutions to prevent any future attempt to revive the uranium mining project.
Questioning the motive behind the reported land purchases, Kharjana claimed that Domiasiat has no commercial value in terms of tourism or other mineral resources such as coal and limestone, suggesting that the acquisitions were linked to the prospect of future uranium mining.
“The KSU will not remain a mute spectator. We will fight tooth and nail to ensure this project is completely scrapped from the state,” he said.
Domiasiat, located about 130 km from Shillong, is home to India’s largest known uranium deposit. Meghalaya has an estimated 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore, making it the country’s third-largest uranium-bearing state after Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
The proposed uranium mining project at Mawthabah in South West Khasi Hills has remained stalled for years after successive state governments and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council declined to grant mining leases and statutory clearances to the state-owned Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL).
Several organisations have opposed the project, citing concerns over radiation risks, environmental degradation, and its impact on local communities.
UCIL had proposed to mine 375,000 tonnes of uranium ore annually and process 1,500 tonnes of ore per day. Although the corporation temporarily shut its Shillong and Wahkaji offices in August 2018, it had maintained that efforts would continue to secure the necessary approvals for the project.