SHILLONG, July 14: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Tuesday urged the Meghalaya government to press the Centre for relocation of the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) office from Nongmensong, Shillong, and to adopt a resolution in the Assembly opposing uranium mining.
The demand came a day after Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh said the proposed uranium mining project in Meghalaya was “under consideration”, despite the state government’s repeated assurances that it would not permit such mining.
Addressing reporters, KSU general secretary Reuben A. Najiar said the continued presence of the AMD office in Shillong showed the Centre had not abandoned its plans. “As long as the AMD office remains at Nongmensong, it indicates that the issue of uranium mining is not going to die,” he said.
Referring to Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar’s recent assertion that the government would not allow uranium mining “at any cost”, Najiar said the state must back its words with action by asking the Centre to withdraw the AMD office.
“If the state government is really serious about opposing uranium mining, it should take a strong stand by asking the Centre to withdraw the AMD office from Nongmensong. That will send a clear message that Meghalaya is against uranium mining,” he added.
He also urged the Assembly to pass a resolution declaring its opposition and communicate it to the Centre, and called on the Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills Autonomous District Councils to adopt similar resolutions, noting that uranium deposits exist in all three regions.
Najiar questioned the need for the AMD office if mining had been ruled out, and expressed concern over increasing land transactions in uranium-bearing areas, particularly Domiasiat. He alleged that influential individuals, including former legislators, were purchasing land there. “We fail to understand why they are buying land in these places, especially when many of these areas have become barren due to earlier uranium exploration activities. These are not tourist destinations,” he said.
These developments, he added, had strengthened the union’s suspicion of renewed efforts to facilitate mining. Drawing a parallel with earlier land deals in East Jaintia Hills that preceded cement plant acquisitions, Najiar cautioned against a similar trend in uranium-bearing areas.
