SHILLONG, JULY 8: The KHNAM on Friday demanded that the state government and KHADC seek clarification from UCIL on its recent tender notice related to uranium mining issued without their consent. It has also lambasted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a ruling party in the centre government, for its interest in only strengthening its party in Meghalaya and weakened the indigenous community.
In a statement issued on Friday, KHNAM-State Youth Wing president Thomas Passah said, “We demand the state government and the KHADC to take up the matter seriously and seek clarification from the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL).”
Strongly condemning the UCIL for attempt to forcibly mine uranium in the state, Passah said, “The party also expressed concern over the statement of the chief minister when he said if the UCIL is doing, it is doing at its own risk,” adding “This only shows the lack of seriousness on his party as the head of the state.”
Also demanding the state government to come out clear on the issue, he said the indigenous community cannot take the risk of waiting till it is too late.
“We feel it is the responsibility of the state government to seek answer from the centre on this regard,” he added.
The KHNAM youth leader also said the tender notice issued by the UCIL inviting Expression of Interest (EOI) from companies without getting the NOC and consent of the KHADC and state government only indicates the attempt of the centre and UCIL to bulldoze the rights of the indigenous community.
“We also condemned the BJP at the centre for only having interest in strengthening its unit in the state and weakened the indigenous community,” he said.
Alleging that the centre is eager to enter into Nuclear Suppliers Group, he however said, “But the message is clear that the people of the state, which has rich deposit of uranium, will not allow this to happen at any cost. We are not ready to be scapegoats.”
Referring to the demand of traditional institutions for issuing NOC for construction of the Nongstoin to Mawthabah road, Passah said that the centre and UCIL are stumbling block in the the way fordevelopment in the region.-By Our Reporter
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