A Reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) expressed strong opposition against the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), 2020 citing that the move of the Centre to do away with the public consultation could be an attempt to forcefully mine uranium in the state.
The union expressed their opposition during the commemoration of the 185th death anniversary of Khasi Freedom Fighter, U Tirot Sing Syiem on Friday.
"We highly suspect that the move to do away with holding of public hearings or public consultations is an attempt to mine uranium," KSU chief Lambokstar Marngar told reporters.
Marngar said the EIA is against the unique land tenure system in the state as well as the provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
The EIA Notification, 2020 has been uploaded on the Environment Ministry website on March 12, seeking public comments.
The KSU leader also reminded that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed by the Centre despite the stiff opposition from the people of the region. "It seems that the Centre is attempting to bulldoze the tribal rights through such legislations and if this is the trend, we will be compelled to fight against these attempts to wipe out the identity of the indigenous people," he said.
Meanwhile, the KSU has demanded the Centre to immediately withdraw the proposed amendments of the draft EIA notification 2020.
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