SHILLONG, July 30: The United Democratic Party (UDP) on Saturday joined the opposition chorus against uranium mining, maintaining that no matter what the Centre asserts, the state will always be against uranium mining and environment degradation.
“Centre may say whatever it wants but we are concerned about the safety of the people and we want to protect and preserve the environment,” said UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh, reacting to recent statement made by DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh in the Lok Sabha.
The DoNER Minister had said that the Centre has not yet abandoned the idea of uranium mining from Domiasiat-Mawthabah area in South West Khasi Hills.
“Absolutely no mining of uranium in the state of Meghalaya. We are concerned about the degradation of the environment and also apprehensive of the problems that may emanate from uranium mining,” Mawthoh asserted.
It may be mentioned that there is growing opposition to uranium mining in Meghalaya ever since DoNER Minister’s statement in the Lower House.
The South West Khasi Hills unit of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) had earlier affirmed its stance against uranium mining in the district, warning any party or government vying for initiating the activity again in the area.
The Federation of the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) South West Khasi Hills has also made its stance clear against uranium mining in the district and warned the government against the same.
“As we had opposed uranium mining in the past, our stance has not change and we will continue to oppose in the future. If the government forcefully goes ahead with the proposed project, we are ready to fight with any means,” working president of FKJGP South West Khasi Hills Kenes Nonglait had said in a statement.
