Shillong, Sep 30: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has reiterated the state government’s stance against uranium mining and further assured to take up with the Centre the matter of an office memorandum after examining its legal aspect.
The office memorandum of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) that proposes to exempt public consultations and hearings for mining projects involving atomic minerals like uranium, has sparked concerns among various groups, which have been opposing any attempt to mine uranium in the state.
Public hearing is one of the crucial components of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for other mining projects.
“As a government, we have made our stand very clear that our people and our community and as stakeholders (and) even as a government that we are not in favour of mining of uranium,” Sangma told reporters on Tuesday.
Asserting that the government’s stand on the issue has been very clear, he said, “We have made this statement very openly and I am making it open now also.”
The chief minister expressed serious concern over the notification, stating that although he hadn’t reviewed it in its entirety, the matter warrants thorough legal scrutiny.
Assuring that the government, if required, will seek a clarification from the Centre on the matter, he said he would “ensure that the interest of our people is protected.”
“I assure the people of the state that we will be standing with the people on this issue… we will take up the matter at the highest level,” Sangma said.
