Shillong, Sept 25: Tura MP Saleng A Sangma has strongly criticised the Government of India, accusing it of undermining the spirit of the Sixth Schedule to facilitate uranium mining in tribal areas of Meghalaya.
Speaking on Friday, Saleng said the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued an Office Memorandum (OM) that exempts the Centre from holding public consultations before allowing the extraction of strategic minerals such as uranium and thorium.
He argued that this unilateral step violates the special provisions of the Sixth Schedule, which safeguards the rights of indigenous communities over their land, forests, and customary practices. “This government, simply because it feels powerful, intends to bulldoze its way through like an earthquake, without respecting the system of governance in the tribal areas,” Saleng said.
Highlighting the dangers, the MP pointed to repeated reports that reveal the severe environmental and health hazards caused by uranium extraction. He warned that if the Centre proceeds without dialogue or consent, it would be unacceptable to the people of the state.
Saleng further urged the Meghalaya Government to register its opposition formally with New Delhi, insisting that both state and tribal voices must be heard before any such project is considered.
