A BJP member has urged the centre to resume uranium mining operations, an issue which could stoke controversy as it is seen as sensitive to the local indigenous tribes of Meghalaya.
A copy of a letter by one Elizabeth Matthews Nongbri, claiming to head a hitherto little known organization named North East Sunshine Trust (NEST), addressed to Minister of State for Atomic Energy, Dr Jitendra Singh claims that her team has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) to restart the shelved uranium mining project.
Nongbri, who claims to be a BJP Karyakarta since 2015, also presented a summary of the policy document and framework for execution in the letter.
She urged the Union minister to invite the team who included “Viksit Bharat Ambassadors from Matrilineal Meghalaya” to “physically present the policy document and framework for execution” to the PM.
As per the summary prepared by NEST, Nongbri said the proposed uranium mining project’s primary objective is to develop and implement sustainable solutions addressing uranium mining concerns in Meghalaya and the plan aims for a balanced approach reconciling economic aspirations with the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage, setting a model for responsible resource utilisation.
She stated that the report is guided by principles of transparency, environmental stewardship, social equity, and community empowerment, the action plan emphasises understanding stakeholder concerns, conducting independent environmental impact assessments, adopting best practices, exploring alternative economic development, and strengthening the legal and regulatory framework.
“Recognising the importance of grassroots organizations, the plan proposes their empowerment as a counterbalance to existing opposing organizations. Initiatives include recognition, capacity building, and inclusion in decision-making, fostering dialogue, and building trust. Integrated seamlessly into the existing action plan, this addition contributes to community representation and collaborative decision making,” Nongbri stated.
She also stated that the plan aims for a balanced approach reconciling economic aspirations with the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage, setting a model for activities that could be created, provided that some members of the trust are involved in decision making posts in UCIL.
Nongbri also stated that some members of the local communities, who have formerly served with the state Soil & Conservation Department, are now part of its team.
“They would be instrumental in generating a favourable public opinion for restarting the project. They have requested for a formal facilitation of a visit to UCIL’s ongoing mining projects in Jharkhand, in order to be able to prepare credible case for garnering sufficient public support,” Nongbri added.
In the letter, she mentioned that her husband is a veteran Colonel from the Assam Regiment. According to her in November 2023, during a National Ex Servicemen Convention at Kurukshetra, she met one Col Pravat Kumar Panda (Retd), Independent Director, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) and he brought up the subject of restarting the Uranium mining project at Meghalaya.
She stated that the centre’s surveys indicated vast deposits of Uranium in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. “Exploratory efforts to mine this extremely valuable and precious resource seventeen years ago could not progress, due to vested interests stonewalling the efforts by building up adverse public opinion against the venture and UCIL was forced to shut down its office in Shillong,” she said.
According to her, the agreement between the Centre and State of 2009 to permit lease of land in West Khasi Hills for pre-mining activities, was cancelled in 2016.
Nongbri said that the estimated quantity of the deposits is vast, adding up to enormous commercial value.
She stated that while other states like Jharkhand have been able to benefit from the much smaller deposits in their area, Meghalaya is sitting on such an enormous quantity of natural resource and is unable to benefit from it.
Meanwhile, the FKJGP has expressed concern over the move and warned the state government not to allow individuals or organisations to create trouble in the state.
FKJGP general secretary, Eldie N Lyngdoh said that the issue of uranium mining is a closed chapter due to opposition from the public.
“The FKJGP and other organisations of the state will not allow Uranium mining in the state since it is a matter of life and death of the people,” Lyngdoh said.
