Shillong, Jul 16: The Meghalaya government will move a resolution in the Assembly to formally oppose and ban uranium mining in the state, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced today.
The announcement comes amid renewed speculation over possible uranium mining in Meghalaya and follows recent protests and demands by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), which has been raising concerns over alleged activities linked to uranium-rich areas in the state.
Sangma said the government has never approved uranium mining and reiterated that its position has remained unchanged.
“The Meghalaya government will pass a resolution to formally oppose and ban uranium mining in the state,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the move is aimed at removing any doubts over the government’s stand.
Given public opposition to uranium mining, the resolution should have broad cross-party support.
Sangma said the proposed resolution reflects the government’s commitment to addressing longstanding public concerns regarding the potential environmental and social consequences of uranium mining. It is also intended to put an end to years of speculation and uncertainty surrounding the issue.
Uranium mining has remained one of Meghalaya’s most sensitive issues for decades, with local communities and civil society organisations consistently opposing any move to extract the mineral due to concerns over environmental degradation, public health and the impact on indigenous land rights.
