In Manipur, local communities and activists have been raising concerns over the signing of mining agreements in tribal villages without proper consultations.

The state government signed 39 MoUs with private companies to explore mineral resources like chromite, limestone, nickel, copper, malachite, azurite, magnetite, and various platinum groups of elements (PGE) between 2017 and 2018. Currently, various mining companies are involved in mining surveys and operation plans to extract various minerals in Manipur, primarily chromite and limestone in Ukhrul, Kamjong, Tengnoupal and Chandel districts that borders Myanmar.

The Indigenous Perspectives and Movement for the Sustainable Development of Manipur (IPMSDL) documented that the agreements were made without free, prior, and informed consent, violating international standards like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Salam Rajesh, an environmental activist, told Land Conflict Watch, "I am aware of this [the mining agreements] but I haven't seen it yet. As far as I am aware, the government had not brought it out for public discussion, nor consulted with local stakeholders."

For instance, in Mailiang village, inhabited by the Tangkhul tribe, the Department of Industries and Commerce set up a store, a workers’ camp with basic machinery to commence limestone mining in an area but the villagers do not have basic information on the mining activity such as Detailed Project Report, Environment Impact Assessments.

Several proposed mining zones overlap with lands inhabited by indigenous communities, who depend on these areas for their livelihoods and cultural practices. The MoUs have triggered fear of forced displacement and loss of ancestral land rights.

Rajesh added, "Chromite mining in Ukhrul district had begun without anyone aware of it initially, but later there was hue and cry and locals opposed it very strongly. Naga insurgents also blocked the mining. It was reported that the chromite was going out from Manipur destined for Odisha but I'm not very sure of about though."

Local communities and organizations, such as the Committee on Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM), have demanded the cancellation of MoUs signed for mining activities without the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples of the state. 

Civil society organizations also expressed deep concerns regarding the lack of public consultations and environmental impact assessments (EIAs) before signing the MoUs. Media reports further highlighted that the mining-affected communities were not informed about the potential consequences of these actions.

While these protests have temporarily halted some mining activities, the government is yet to officially cancel the agreements. Activists continue to demand a dialogue to address community concerns.

Meanwhile, critics accused the government of exploiting ethnic violence to push these contracts, particularly for platinum mining, amid rising tensions between Meitei and Kuki communities. In August 2023, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar stated that the unrest is being used as a pretext to push mining contracts to private industrialists close to the government. He alleged that significant platinum reserves were uncovered in areas inhabited by the Kuki tribal communities and that the ruling BJP government was using the unrest in Manipur to grant mining rights to Gautam Adani. Land Conflict Watch has not independently verified the veracity of facts in this allegation.

In addition, there are growing worries about the impact of extractive industries and related projects, which have increased militarisation and targeted indigenous leaders under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, of 1958 (AFSPA). Calls for the repeal of AFSPA and demilitarisation of Manipur have been emphasised.

Activists also warned that mining activities would result in deforestation, soil erosion, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. Jiten Yumnam, a prominent environmentalist, argued that mining operations threaten the fragile ecosystems of Manipur's hill areas.

As of February 2025, the mining activities have been halted. Another environmental activist from the state, on condition of anonymity said, "The mining agreements were initiated in the beginning and the mining companies also came to survey the areas but it was gradually withheld. Manipur comes under 371 (C) governance and without the consent of Hills Areas Committee (HAC) they cannot pursue such explorations. Moreover, tribes in the Ukhrul district like tribe Hoho objected to chromite mining."