Shillong, Jul 8: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday reiterated that the State Government is not in favour of uranium mining in Meghalaya, and asserted that his word as CM should be taken as the government’s final stand on the issue.
The statement came in response to questions about alleged visits by Atomic Minerals Directorate, AMD, officials to uranium-rich areas of West Khasi Hills, including Domiasiat village, despite the government’s 2009 decision to revoke a cabinet decision on uranium mining.
“In all my press conferences and even as close as 2025 I remember I made a statement on this very clear that we are not in favour of uranium mining. We are very clear about it and we have made it clear to the government of India also. We have made it very clear to the people also,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister said the government’s approach is to build consensus and not impose decisions on people.
“And it is not just about uranium mining. If you look at all the decisions that we are taking, especially the decisions that impact the people at large, we have been very clear that we will work and do things in line with what is in the best interest of our people,” he said.
Citing railways as an example, he added, “Whether you talk of railways, we may be the only state that today does not have a railway connection to the capital city or to the major regions of the state. It is a big challenge but we don’t bulldoze. We are very clear that we must take people into confidence when we move forward in this aspect.”Sangma said the issue of uranium mining has come up multiple times and has been rejected each time.
“So that has been the principle with which we follow. We believe in creating consensus, we believe in ensuring that we are sharing everything with the people and uranium mining has been something which we all have been concern about and I have made my point very clear that we are not at all in favour of uranium mining and this is an issue that has come multiple times to us and we have rejected it multiple times,” he said.
He also dismissed attempts to create confusion over the government’s position.
“I think this is an issue that need not be explained in a manner in which to make the people confused that the government is in favour of it, we are not and I have been very clear,” the Chief Minister said.
On allegations by KSU that AMD officials are making frequent visits to Domiasiat and other areas, Sangma said he was not aware of any such movement but assured action if confirmed.
“Regarding the movement of people coming in and going out, that is something…if any knowledge comes to my office, if you inform me then obviously we will take action. I don’t have any specific written tour or anything like that of anybody coming in…I mean I can check if they did come in or not but as far as my information goes I have not been informed them but since you have told me right now that there is a report that there were some movement, I will find out and accordingly we will take steps in that also,” he said.
Asked if the government would consider passing a resolution in the Assembly to reiterate its stand, Sangma said his statement itself carries weight.
“I think the government as chief minister my statement is the most important, I have made my statement very clear that the government will not allow this and I think that is where we are right now and we will examine the need for resolution if it has to be but I think the fact that chief minister has made the stand of the government clear I think that word should count,” he said.
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