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[POLITICS] · India · 13 sources

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Meghalaya Assembly unanimously opposes uranium mining

The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution opposing uranium mining and the establishment of uranium ore-processing facilities within the state. The motion, moved by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and supported by all 60 MLAs across party lines, formally records the state's opposition to extraction activities, including the Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah uranium mining project.

The resolution urges the central government, the Department of Atomic Energy, and the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) to cease all uranium-related operations in the region. The decision is rooted in concerns regarding public health, environmental safety, and the protection of traditional land rights.

Legislative leaders cited the state's unique land-tenure system under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, where land is held by communities, clans, and individuals. The state also relies on a 2019 Supreme Court judgment, State of Meghalaya vs. All Dimisa Students Union, which affirmed that private and community landowners hold rights to both surface and sub-soil minerals. This legal precedent reinforces the argument that mining cannot proceed without the consent of local owners.

Entities

Conrad K Sangma · Conrad Sangma · Department of Atomic Energy · Meghalaya · Meghalaya Legislative Assembly · Uranium Corporation of India Limited · Uranium Corporation of India Ltd

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