Meghalaya govt to adopt resolution opposing uranium mining: CM

Correspondent
Shillong, Jul 16 (NPN): Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday reiterated the state government’s opposition to uranium mining and announced that it will introduce a unanimous resolution in the Assembly to formally oppose it.
The announcement comes as a direct response to intense pressure from the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), which demands that both the State Assembly and Autonomous District Councils adopt clear resolutions against uranium extraction.
In a video statement, Sangma said the government has consistently maintained its stand against uranium mining and has never granted approval for such activities in the state.
“I have made it very clear a number of times that our government is against uranium mining and we will oppose any form of attempt to have uranium mining in the state,” the Chief Minister stated.
Sangma stated he had held a detailed meeting with several National People’s Party (NPP) leaders, who suggested the government adopt a resolution in the assembly opposing uranium mining.
He said the proposed resolution reinforces the government’s commitment to address the long-standing public concerns over the potential environmental and social impacts of uranium mining.
“It (the proposed resolution) also brings clarity to the issue, putting to rest years of speculation and uncertainty surrounding the matter,” the Chief Minister said.
Sangma also informed that Union Minister of State for Department of Atomic Energy Dr. Jitendra Singh had clarified to the media during his recent visit to Shillong that the Union government has not taken any decision on uranium mining in Meghalaya and that the matter is still under examination.
The KSU, which has been spearheading the anti-uranium campaign, claimed that influential individuals, including a former legislator from Ri-Bhoi district, are trying to acquire land in Domiasiat village to sell it to mining companies for uranium extraction.
Domiasiat, a small hamlet in South West Khasi Hills district, about 130 km from Meghalaya’s capital Shillong, is known for its largest and richest uranium deposit in India.
Meghalaya has an estimated 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore deposits. Meghalaya is the third uranium-rich state in the country after Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
State-owned Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had plans to produce 375,000 tonnes of uranium ore a year and process 1,500 tonnes of the mineral a day.
However, the UCIL temporarily shut down its offices in Shillong and Wahkaji after the State government and the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council refused to grant mining leases and statutory permissions for the open-cast uranium mining and processing plant at Mawthabah.
Nonetheless, the UCIL, India’s sole producer of uranium ore, maintained that efforts are ongoing to obtain the necessary mining leases and statutory permissions from the State government.