Allegation of illegal uranium mining in Garo Hills region
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 16: BJP’s Meghalaya vice president Bernard N. Marak on Thursday said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s denial of illegal uranium mining activities in the state will not alter this “open secret.”
“The Chief Minister was expected to refute allegations of widespread illegal mining and transportation of uranium in the state but it remains an open secret. The unauthorised mining of uranium ore poses a more severe threat to the state and the people, and it compromises national security,” the Tura MDC said.
Throwing down the gauntlet, he asked the Chief Minister to engage in an open debate on the issue. “If the Chief Minister is genuinely committed to addressing the problem of illegal mining, he can convene a meeting or invite me for an open debate or discussion in the media,” the MDC said.
“I am committed to transparency, good governance and safety of the people. I would be more than happy to brief him about the illegal activities which gravely endanger the security of the state and the people,” he further stated.
He lamented that despite repeated attempts, he has not been able to secure an appointment with the Chief Minister to discuss the matter.
Marak recalled purported illicit uranium extraction in the state a couple of years ago and claimed that “the state initially denied it until we notified the top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs,” leading to intervention and cessation of the activities in the Khasi Hills region.
According to Marak, the previous administration was aware and involved but denied any wrongdoing through the media.
He said while the Chief Minister may be “uninformed about the current situation,” he was confident the Centre will step in to investigate.
“We are confident that the central government will intervene, given the implausible nature of disregarding the underlying political motivations driving these illicit activities which, I believe, should be checked and stopped to not aggravate the situation,” the BJP leader said.
Drawing parallels to the “deep-rooted nexus” in the coal sector, he alleged that his own probe into illegal coal mining and transportation activities in Garo Hills revealed complicity among coal dealers, officials, and political leaders.
Marak further claimed that his efforts to expose governance lapses and corruption made him a target of political retaliation.
“The administration has consistently targeted me through its machineries over the years for exposing widespread corruption within the system that is affecting the public,” he stated.
It may be nted that the Chief Minister has rejected the claims of the BJP leader that illegal mining of uranium was taking place in the Garo Hills.
Reacting to the claims, he said that he has not received any evidence or information related to uranium mining.
Asking a responsible leader like Marak not to issue statements to grab attention, he said the BJP leader should provide the proof for his claims. “If it is the case, it is a matter of concern. If there is anything, the Meghalaya government will be the first one to react, as we have been against uranium mining,” he said.
