Shillong, Aug 26 (IANS) The Meghalaya Assembly on Wednesday adopted a government resolution opposing uranium mining and the setting up of any uranium ore-processing facility in the state, formally reinforcing the state government’s long-standing position against uranium-related activities.
Moving the resolution in the House, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the decision reflected the concerns of the people of Meghalaya, particularly communities residing in areas where uranium deposits have been identified.
Sangma highlighted Meghalaya’s distinctive land ownership system, governed by constitutional safeguards and customary practices.
He said that community, clan and individual ownership of land is protected under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
The Chief Minister also referred to a 2019 Supreme Court judgment in the case of State of Meghalaya versus All Dimasa Students Union, which recognised the rights of private and community landowners over both the land surface and minerals beneath their property.
Uranium deposits have been identified in several parts of Meghalaya, including Domiasiat, Wahkijn and Lostoin.
However, proposals for uranium mining in the state have faced strong resistance for several decades.
Local communities, traditional institutions, student bodies and civil society organisations have repeatedly opposed mining projects, citing concerns over possible health risks, environmental degradation, displacement and the potential impact on traditional land and livelihoods.
Sangma told the State Assembly that the resolution would serve as a formal expression of Meghalaya’s opposition to uranium extraction as well as the establishment of processing facilities.
He said the state government would communicate the decision of the state Assembly to the Centre, thereby placing Meghalaya’s position on record in relation to any future proposal involving uranium mining or processing.
The resolution provides legislative backing to the decades-old movement against uranium mining in the state and signals that the Meghalaya government does not support the extraction or processing of uranium within its territory.
The Chief Minister stressed that any decision concerning land and natural resources in Meghalaya must take into account the state’s constitutional protections, customary ownership systems and the wishes of its people.
The Assembly’s resolution comes against the backdrop of repeated debates over uranium mining in Meghalaya, where the issue has remained politically and socially sensitive.
With the House formally adopting the resolution, the state government has reiterated its opposition to uranium-related activities and its commitment to protecting customary land rights and addressing the concerns of communities living in mineral-bearing areas.
–IANS
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