Amid pressure, Conrad says Meghalaya will not surrender land, future to radioactive threat
Meghalaya government signals renewed political resistance to uranium mining amid Khasi Hills opposition and Centre-linked speculation
- The Meghalaya government will move a resolution in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to block uranium mining in the state.
- The Union government is examining the status of uranium mining in Meghalaya and has taken no decision on mining, according to Conrad K. Sangma.
- The Khasi Students’ Union and other groups opposed any perceived revival of uranium exploration and mining in the south-west Khasi Hills.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has said the state government will move a resolution in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to block uranium mining in the state. The issue matters because it combines mineral policy, environmental risk, and tribal land concerns in a state where uranium mining has long faced public resistance.
The immediate trigger was remarks by Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh, who said the Union government was examining the status of uranium mining in Meghalaya. Khasi Students’ Union and other groups interpreted the remarks as a signal that uranium exploration and mining could be revived in the south-west Khasi Hills.
UPSC may frame uranium mining in Meghalaya around the balance between mineral-resource exploitation, environmental and public-health risk, tribal land concerns, and the role of state legislative resolutions when citizens oppose a strategic mining project.
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