What happened in Meghalaya’s Legislative Assembly
Meghalaya’s Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution opposing uranium mining and opposing any uranium ore-processing facility in Meghalaya. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma moved the resolution in the Assembly.
Conrad K. Sangma stated that the Meghalaya government is aligned with communities in uranium-bearing regions of West Khasi Hills. The resolution followed concerns raised by the Khasi Students’ Union that efforts might be underway again to pave the way for uranium mining.
Conrad K. Sangma referenced a Union government statement that the Union government was examining the status of uranium mining in Meghalaya. Local groups interpreted this Union government examination as a sign of possible renewed plans and asked for a legislative response through Meghalaya’s Assembly.
Background: land-mineral rights and local resistance to uranium exploration
The Meghalaya resolution cites a Supreme Court decision from 2019 recognising rights of private and community landowners over surface land. The Supreme Court decision referred to in the resolution also recognises rights related to minerals beneath the surface land.
Related current affairs
- Amid pressure, Conrad says Meghalaya will not surrender land, future to radioactive threat
- Assam-Meghalaya traffic hit as cabbies continue blockade
- Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution: State song must be sung first
- Rajya Sabha question: impact of uranium mining on health; monitoring and survey findings by BARC/UCIL and regulators
- Wangchuk opens a window for talks as Centre steps up efforts to resolve crisis
- One killed, three injured in chemical tanker explosion