KHM youth wing smells conspiracy

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, April 5: The youth wing of the Khun Hynniewtrep tiol Awakening Movement (KHM) has alleged that the state government imposed Administrator’s Rule in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) since it wanted to mine uranium from West Khasi Hills district.

Expressing concern over the arbitrary decision of the government to impose Administrator’s Rule in the KHADC the KHM said that since the state government has failed on all fronts instead it was a fit case to impose President’s Rule in the state.

According to Thomas Passah, president of the KHM youth wing the All Regiol Parties Alliance (ARPA) under the leadership of its Chief Executive Member (CEM) Adelbert Nongrum had vehemently opposed fresh attempts to start the project.

“Maybe this is the reason why the state government has imposed Administrator’s Rule so that it can complete the road project from Nongstoin to Wahkaji to facilitate the mining of this mineral (uranium),” Passah alleged.

According to the KHM youth wing, the state government cannot go-ahead with the mining under control of the KHADC by the ARPA. It may be mentioned that the Central government had sanctioned the two-laning of the 68 km Nongstoin-Domiasiat-Mawthabah road at a cost of Rs 470 crore.

The state accounts for 16 per cent of India’s uranium reserves, with deposits estimated to be around 9,500 tonnes and 4,000 tonnes respectively at Domiasiat and Wakhaji, both in West Khasi hills region.

The youth wing of the KHM said that it was in sync with the contention of the District Council Affairs (DCA) minister HDR Lyngdoh that the Administrator’s Rule has been imposed since there was instability in the ARPA with the MDCs changing sides frequently.

“If he is so concerned then the anti-defection law should be applied in the district councils to prevent defection,” Passah said.

It may be mentioned that the state government on March 18 imposed Administrator’s Rule in the KHADC but the Governor, Keshari th Tripathi urged the government to review its decision.

However, the state government last week decided stick to its previous decision to impose “Administrator’s Rule” in the KHADC by deciding to send a fresh recommendation to the State Governor.