Meghalaya Groups Slam Centre’s Move to Exempt Uranium Mining from Public Hearings

A recent office memorandum from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, which waives mandatory public consultations for uranium and other critical mineral mining, has sparked outrage in Meghalaya, a state rich in uranium deposits.

The decision, affecting minerals listed under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, has reignited concerns in areas like Domiasiat and Wahkaji in West Khasi Hills, home to some of India’s largest uranium reserves.

Local organisations, long opposed to uranium extraction due to health, environmental, and indigenous rights concerns, have vowed to intensify their resistance. The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), a leading voice in the decades-long anti-uranium movement, condemned the exemption as an attack on the rights of indigenous communities. KSU president Lambokstar Marngar warned that any renewed attempts to mine uranium would face fierce opposition, emphasising the community’s resolve to protect their land and health.

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) echoed these sentiments, accusing the central government of employing new tactics to suppress dissent and undermine local decision-making. “This move seeks to silence our voices and strip us of our rights over our land and resources, exposing our communities to the dangers of uranium mining,” the HYC stated. The group urged residents to remain steadfast in their fight against any mining initiatives in Meghalaya.

Similarly, the National People’s Youth Front (NPYF) called on the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to leverage the Sixth Schedule’s provisions to protect tribal rights in uranium-rich areas. NPYF working president Bajop Pyngrope revealed that council Chief Executive Member Shemborlang Rynjah assured them the issue would be reviewed and discussed with council officials.

Meghalaya’s uranium deposits have been a contentious issue for over two decades, with successive mining proposals stalled due to strong local resistance.