Chief of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Pyniaid Sing Syiem has said that the district council will send a reminder to the state and central governments that uranium mining will not be allowed and that it will not grant No Objection Certificate to anyone.
“Our stance till date is clear that we will not at any cost allow uranium mining in the state. We will send a reminder to the state and central government on the matter,” Syiem told reporters today.
He said that all the 30 members of the KHADC are unanimous with the decision that no private party or state and central government will be granted with NOC to explore or mine uranium in the state within the Khasi Hills region, especially at Domiasiat.
Meanwhile, the KHADC chief said an eviction drive will be carried out at Ichamati in East Khasi Hills. He said the district council will not allow illegal trading by non-tribals.
Syiem said necessary direction has been given to the traditional heads in the area to remain vigilant and not to take matters lightly. He said during his recent visit to Majai many non-tribal shopkeepers do not have valid documents and despite being served with show cause notice illegal business has resumed.
“We also fear that these people may not just be non-tribals but Bangladeshi who have entered India illegally and carry all kinds of illicit activities in the border area and quick to escape through the borders,” he added.
He also said that illegal trading by the non-tribals would be strictly dealt with under the KHAD (Trading By-Non Tribals Regulation) Act even as he expressed challenges with insufficient manpower available in the trade and enforcement wing of the district council.
