Shillong, July 6: The state government has reiterated its position on uranium mining, asserting it will not be allowed in Meghalaya.
The administration stands firmly with the people on the issue and there is no change in the government’s stand, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday.
“We are very clear on that… whether it is uranium or… we are very clear… we are with the people of Meghalaya,” he told reporters.
Dhar’s statement comes amid allegations by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) that some MLAs are buying land at Domiasiat at cheap rates and trying to convince locals to accept uranium mining.
Dhar said he was not aware of such claims, but stressed that mining cannot proceed unless the entire state agrees.
“I am not aware about that. The only thing is that uranium is not allowed until and unless the whole state is on board,” he said.
He added that the government will examine the allegation.
“If there is an allegation, the government will verify whether it is right or wrong. That is top priority,” Dhar said.
Rejecting claims that the area has been denied development for opposing uranium mining, Dhar said, “Whenever we bring development, the government has never had any negative thought behind it.”
Development may not have taken place as expected in the uranium area as schemes for development have to be distributed evenly across the state, he said.
On complaints about poor roads and health services, he said the government was trying to improve connectivity statewide.
