Shillong, Jul 14: The Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation (HITO) today urged the central government to permanently abandon all proposals for uranium mining in Meghalaya, citing irreversible environmental, health and cultural impacts and the historical rights of the indigenous people.
In a statement, HITO expressed deep concern over renewed discussions and reports relating to uranium mining in the South West Khasi Hills. The organisation said the people have consistently and unequivocally rejected uranium mining because of its environmental and health consequences.
Recently another pressure group claimed that one or more politicians were trying to buy up land in SWKH from locals in order to pave the way for uranium extraction.
For nearly 20 years civil society organisations, traditional institutions, village communities and the people of Meghalaya have repeatedly voiced their opposition, HITO said, and their concerns remain valid today.
Citing the experience of uranium mining in other parts of India, particularly in Jharkhand, HITO raised serious concerns regarding radiation exposure, environmental degradation, contamination of water sources and long-term public health impacts. “These experiences should serve as a warning rather than a model for Meghalaya. The Hynniewtrep people refuse to become another experiment whose consequences may affect generations to come,” the statement said.
HITO also reminded the Centre that the Meghalaya government had already taken a clear policy decision on the matter, revoking permission in 2016 for pre-project developmental activities proposed by the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) at Wahkaji. The government further cancelled the lease covering approximately 422 hectares in Nongbah Jynrin.
“The government of India should not disturb the peace, stability and ecological balance of Meghalaya when alternative sources of uranium are already available through lawful international cooperation,” HITO said, adding that the Hynñiewtrep people should not be asked to bear the environmental and health risks of a project that is neither welcomed nor consented to by indigenous communities.
