By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 4: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has called on the Meghalaya government to stand firm on the 2016 decision of the then Mukul Sangma-led government to completely ban uranium mining in the state.
In 2016, the Congress government revoked permission earlier granted to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for pre-mining activities and reclaimed 422 hectares of land in Mawthabah, South West Khasi Hills, allotted in 2009.
HSPDP president KP Pangniang reminded that opposing uranium mining has been a core commitment of the party since the days of late leader Hoping Stone Lyngdoh. “We promised in our manifesto to oppose it tooth and nail, and we reiterate that no uranium mining or even exploration will ever be allowed in Meghalaya,” he told reporters on Thursday.
The party’s fresh appeal comes after a recent Office Memorandum from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change exempted uranium mining projects from mandatory public hearings, sparking concern across the state.
Meghalaya has an estimated 23,268 tonnes of uranium ore, with major deposits in Domiasiat (9,500 tonnes) and Wahkyn (9,764 tonnes) areas of South West Khasi Hills. Local stakeholders continue to oppose mining citing serious health and environmental risks.
In a separate demand, the HSPDP urged Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to aggressively pursue the long-pending creation of a separate Meghalaya cadre for the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
The state has been pressing for this since 2019, but the Centre has remained silent, just as it has on the demands for ILP and inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule.
Pangniang said a separate cadre would open more opportunities for local youth aspiring to become IAS and IPS officers. Currently, Meghalaya shares a joint cadre with Assam.
