The Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) Government’s effort to evolve a consensus over the uranium issue seems to have backfired as its key allies — Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and Hills State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) — have said they would not back down from their earlier stand and will continue to oppose uranium mining in Meghalaya. The opposition Congress has flatly rejected MPA’s invitation to be part of the all-party committee on uranium mining. Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president O L Nongtdu told The Indian Express on Tuesday: “There is no point in being a part of the all-party committee as the Government at the Centre, headed by the Congress, has already decided in favour of mining in Meghalaya.” KHNAM president and Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh said that the proposed mining of uranium would adversely affect the health of people where uranium will be mined. According to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), there are uranium deposits of around 16,000 tonnes in Nongbah-Jynrin. Despite obtaining environmental clearance from the Forest and Environment Ministry, the UCIL has not been able to go ahead with the project in Nongbah-Jynrin due to stiff opposition from local NGOs and political parties.
