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Shillong, Oct 23 (IANS) The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has opposed a recent directive of the central government that removes the requirement of public consultation before starting uranium mining projects in tribal areas, calling it a direct threat to indigenous rights and environmental safeguards.
During a council session here on Wednesday night, Chief Executive Member (CEM) Winston Tony Lyngdoh moved and passed a resolution rejecting the September memorandum issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The memorandum exempts mining projects involving nuclear minerals – such as uranium – from mandatory public hearings under the amendments made to the Mines and Minerals Act, 2023.
The move is aimed at expediting approvals for “critical and strategic” minerals by the Centre.
Lyngdoh warned that the exemption could have far-reaching consequences for tribal communities in Meghalaya. He said the directive undermines long-standing traditional governance systems by allowing mining in tribal areas without the consent of the local population.
“Such policies ignore community voices and endanger both the environment and public health,” Lyngdoh told the House.
The resolution urged the Central Government to exclude areas under the jurisdiction of KHADC from the scope of the memorandum.
Lyngdoh said the council had already written to the MoEFCC secretary seeking such relaxation, but has not received any formal response so far.
However, opposition leader Titostarvel Chin said the proposal fell short of expectations. He argued that limiting the exemption request only to the Khasi Hills would tacitly support uranium mining in other tribal areas like Jaintia and Garo Hills.
Chine demanded that KHADC call for the complete withdrawal of the memorandum in all tribal areas of Meghalaya.
They further cautioned that removing the public hearing process would effectively silence indigenous voices and weaken community oversight of mining decisions that could have irreversible impacts on their ancestral lands.
Chine reminded the Council that the Centre’s earlier attempts to start uranium mining in the state had faced widespread opposition, reflecting the public’s deep opposition to such projects due to their environmental and social implications.
–IANS
TDR/DPB