Shillong: Meghalaya’s Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has officially requested the central government to exempt tribal areas under its administration from a recent directive. This order, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), eliminates the requirement for public consultations for mining projects involving ‘atomic minerals’ like uranium, as well as critical and strategic minerals.
KHADC Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh stated that the Council rejects the MoEFCC’s Office Memorandum (OM) dated September 8, 2025. He believes this memorandum infringes upon the region’s long-standing customs and traditions, amounting to an encroachment on ancestral lands. Lyngdoh expressed serious concern that this decision could lead to land grabbing and exploitation of tribal territories without local consent, potentially exposing the community and environment to severe health and ecological hazards.
To address these concerns, the KHADC has formally asked the ministry to grant an exemption for areas under its jurisdiction from the September 8 order.
Opposition leader Titosstarwell Chyne voiced his support for the KHADC’s resolution, emphasizing the widespread implications of the memorandum for Meghalaya. He noted that by removing public hearings, the order effectively silences the voices of local communities.
Chyne reminded that both the state government and the KHADC have historically opposed uranium mining in Meghalaya. “The Centre has repeatedly attempted to mine uranium in our state, but our people have consistently stood firm against it,” he remarked.
However, Chyne urged the executive committee to take a stronger stance by pushing for the complete withdrawal of the September 8 order. He argued that merely seeking an exclusion implies that uranium mining is acceptable in other parts of the state, which contradicts their long-held opposition.
The MoEFCC’s order, issued on September 8, exempts mining projects involving atomic minerals (Part B) and critical/strategic minerals (Part D) from mandatory public consultations as per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of August 14, 2006. The ministry justified this move as a measure to expedite mining projects of national importance.
Nevertheless, environmental and tribal rights organizations across the Northeast have voiced strong criticism, asserting that the decision bypasses crucial local consent and weakens environmental safeguards.
Uranium mining has been a particularly sensitive issue in Meghalaya, especially in areas like Domiasiat and Mawthabah in South West Khasi Hills, where significant uranium deposits have been identified. Past efforts by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) to commence operations were consistently blocked by strong opposition from local communities and the state government, citing concerns over health impacts, environmental damage, and the violation of tribal land rights.