Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Monday reiterated that the state government will not proceed with uranium mining unless it has the support of the people, assuring that public interest will remain its foremost priority.
Responding to concerns raised by the Khasi Students’ Union over uranium mining, Dhar said the government remains committed to protecting the interests of the people through consultation and balanced development.
“We are very clear. We are with the people of the state. Uranium mining cannot be allowed unless the whole state is on board,” the deputy chief minister said.
He added that the government verifies all allegations and public concerns before taking any decision.
“The government is always trying to verify whether people are on board. That is our top priority,” he said.
Dhar maintained that the state’s development initiatives are aimed at improving Meghalaya’s overall growth and are not intended to have adverse consequences.
“Whenever we undertake development, we never have negative thinking behind it. Development is development,” he said.
The deputy chief minister also dismissed suggestions that the government was concentrating development only in uranium-bearing areas, asserting that projects are being implemented equitably across the state.
“The government does not bring development only to uranium areas. Development is equally distributed across the state,” he added.
