Khasi Hills Council Rejects Centre’s Uranium Mining Move, Citing Threat to Tribal and Environmental Rights

Published on : 23 Oct 2025, 5:18 am

Shillong: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has voiced strong opposition to the central government’s recent decision permitting uranium and atomic mineral mining in tribal areas without the need for public hearings.

During a special session held in Shillong, the Council unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s (MoEFCC) new policy, which removes the requirement for community consultation in projects involving “strategic” or “critical” minerals.

KHADC Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh, who introduced the motion, said the policy undermines both tribal self-governance and environmental safeguards. He warned that allowing mining without public consent could have “irr