Guwahati: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has alleged a fresh attempt to revive the proposed uranium mining project in Meghalaya’s Domiasiat region and said it is preparing to reveal the identities of former legislators allegedly involved in land transactions linked to the area once it secures documentary evidence.
KSU general secretary Reuben A. Najiar said the organisation first received information about the alleged land deals around two months ago and has since been verifying the claims through official land records.
He alleged that some of the transactions were carried out about six months earlier.
According to Najiar, the union already knows the identities of the former MLAs but has decided not to make the names public until it obtains documentary proof from government records and traditional authorities.
He also alleged that certain individuals had been influenced to support the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) in pursuing its plans in Domiasiat and nearby areas.
The KSU, he said, would release the relevant records after completing the verification process and identify everyone it believes was involved in land purchases linked to the proposed uranium mining project.
Najiar said some individuals approached the KSU seeking a meeting after the allegations surfaced, but the organisation declined the request.
“We made it clear that we are not interested in meeting people who betray their own people to serve their personal interests,” he said.
The KSU leader also claimed that AMD officials have stepped up their visits to Domiasiat and surrounding villages in recent months.
He alleged that the teams were escorted by personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces instead of the Meghalaya Police, which, according to him, ignored both public sentiment and the state government’s position.
“What is alarming is that they were escorted not by Meghalaya Police but by personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces,” Najiar alleged, adding that KSU leaders had also received anonymous threat letters in the past.
Najiar said the issue had already been raised with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who, according to him, assured the union that he would seek an explanation from the AMD.
The organisation has also urged the Chief Minister to prevent AMD officials from entering villages where uranium deposits have been identified.
Reiterating the union’s opposition to uranium mining in Meghalaya, Najiar said the KSU would continue monitoring developments and expose any move that, in its view, seeks to revive the proposed project.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, however, said the central government had not approached the Meghalaya government in recent times regarding the resumption of uranium mining.
He said the Chief Minister had previously reaffirmed the Meghalaya government’s opposition to uranium extraction in the state.