Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: Meghalaya’s political parties and pressure groups have united to oppose uranium mining, but the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) insists an Assembly resolution is not enough. KSU leaders argue that the state must build stronger legal defenses to block federal mining interests in Domiasiat and other regions. While Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma plans to move a formal resolution, the KSU remains wary.
KSU general secretary Reuben Najiar noted that Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh recently called the matter under examination. This suggests the Centre has not closed the door on extraction. “A resolution is merely a declaration and does not have enough strength to permanently rule out uranium mining,” Najiar said. The union is now pushing the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills Autonomous District Councils to amend land laws. They want to prevent the sale of uranium-bearing land to outside interests.
The group also demanded the immediate closure of the Atomic Minerals Directorate office in Nongmensong. KSU president Raymond Kharjana raised alarms about influential figures buying land in the Domiasiat area. He fears road projects and private land deals are masking a push for renewed mining activity. The 2020 reports of leaks at the Domiasiat site continue to fuel local anxiety.
Political support for the ban spans the spectrum. The All India Trinamool Congress and the state BJP have both agreed to back the government’s resolution. BJP MLA Alexander Laloo Hek stated the party stands with the resolution while noting the Centre requires local consent to proceed. The KSU plans to lobby the 60-member Assembly to ensure the resolution passes with unanimous backing. They vowed to continue the fight. The organization will block any effort to undermine indigenous land rights.
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