SHILLONG : The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Wednesday unanimously adopted a resolution opposing uranium mining and processing anywhere in the state, sending a strong and united message from both the ruling and opposition benches.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma moved the resolution, which received the support of all 60 members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

The resolution cited land rights, environmental concerns and the consistent opposition of the people as the three principal grounds for rejecting uranium mining in Meghalaya.

Land and customary rights

The House highlighted Meghalaya’s constitutional and customary protections over land under the Sixth Schedule. Land in the tribal areas is largely held under community and customary systems regulated by the Autonomous District Councils.

The resolution also referred to the Supreme Court’s July 3, 2019 order in State of Meghalaya vs All Dimasa Students Union, which held that tribal landowners have rights over both surface and sub-soil resources, including minerals.

Environmental and ecological concerns

The Assembly also expressed concern over the potential environmental risks associated with uranium mining in areas such as Domiasiat, Wahkyn and Lostoin.

The deposits are located in high-rainfall, steep and landslide-prone areas that form part of catchments supplying water to communities, agricultural land and fisheries.

The resolution stated that affected communities have not been convinced that overburden, tailings and effluents generated from uranium mining can be safely contained under such challenging geographical and climatic conditions.

People have consistently opposed uranium mining

The House further noted that there has been no free, prior and informed consent from the affected people and that no uranium mining lease has ever been granted in Meghalaya.

The Assembly also took note of the Centre’s September 8, 2025 memorandum exempting atomic minerals from public consultation under environmental impact assessment norms.

At the same time, the Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy recently stated in Shillong that no decision had been taken on uranium mining in Meghalaya.

Assembly asks Centre to stop KPM project

Through the resolution, the Meghalaya Assembly formally recorded its opposition to uranium mining and processing in the state and urged the Government of India, the Department of Atomic Energy and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) not to permit the Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong-Mawthabah (KPM) uranium project.

It also called for the closure of any uranium-related activity in Meghalaya.

Moving the resolution, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the government felt it was necessary for the Assembly to send a united message on the issue.

“We have seen impacts of uranium mining elsewhere in the country where health of people around mining areas has been affected. There was no clarity on the stand of the government, the House and the people, so we felt a resolution must be brought to send a message in one voice,” Sangma said.

He further stressed that political differences should not come in the way of protecting the people of Meghalaya.

“Political differences apart, when it comes to protection of our people, we are one. This resolution will be remembered for generations to come,” he said while urging the members to support the resolution.

Following a discussion in which almost all legislators supported the proposal, the Speaker put the resolution to a vote and declared it unanimously adopted.