By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 16: The UDP has urged the central government to withdraw the Office Memorandum (OM) issued on September 8, which exempts public consultation for mining critical and atomic minerals.
In a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, UDP general secretary Titosstarwell Chyne said that one of the main objectives of the party is to protect and promote the aspirations of the Indigenous people of Meghalaya, while safeguarding the land, natural resources, cultural heritage, and languages of the state.
“As a party, we would like to place before your good office our opposition to the OM issued by the Ministry. We are of the view that public consultation before land acquisition, especially in tribal areas, ensures transparency, gathers feedback from affected stakeholders, identifies potential conflicts, and improves the overall legitimacy and fairness of the acquisition process for public and private projects,” Chyne stated.
He emphasised that public consultation is a vital participatory approach to understand community concerns, find consensus on acceptable pathways, and ensure that projects for public purposes truly align with the needs and rights of the people.
Chyne added that such consultations enhance trust by providing clear and accessible information about proposed land acquisitions and offer affected individuals and communities a platform to express their concerns and share valuable insights.
The UDP general secretary further said that early engagement helps in identifying potential conflicts and facilitates proactive conflict resolution, while ensuring that the needs of vulnerable sections of society is considered and adverse impacts minimised.
He also underlined that public consultations help build consensus among stakeholders and are integral to assessing social and environmental impacts through Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
He argued that exempting public consultation for mining critical and atomic minerals, as per the OM undermines the interests of the people of Meghalaya, raising fears that the Centre may push forward uranium mining projects against the will of local communities.
“As such, the UDP expresses its strong opposition to the said OM and demands that the Central Government withdraw it. We hope that you will accept our request, for which we shall remain grateful,” Chyne said.
