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Khasi Hills Council Rejects Uranium-Mining Hearing Exemption, Seeks Exclusion of Its Areas

The vote challenges a September 8 environment ministry order removing EIA public consultations for atomic, critical, strategic mineral projects.

Overview

  • KHADC unanimously passed a resolution opposing any move to mine uranium within its jurisdiction and rejecting the MoEFCC’s September 8 memorandum.
  • The council asked the Centre to exclude all areas under KHADC from the order that ends mandatory public hearings for specified mineral projects.
  • Opposition leader Titosstarwell Chyne urged demanding a full withdrawal or suspension of the policy across Meghalaya, not only a KHADC carve-out.
  • Members proposed coordinating with JHADC and GHADC for a joint resolution to strengthen the call for exemptions in Sixth Schedule areas.
  • The MoEFCC says the exemption aims to speed strategically important mining, while rights groups warn it sidelines local consent in regions with past resistance to UCIL’s uranium plans at Domiasiat and Mawthabah.