Hurdles cleared for uranium mining in Meghalaya

Shillong, Mar 14 (UNI) Hurdles at the proposed uranium mining site in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills have almost been removed with the Uraniun Corporation of india (UCIL) releasing a hefty amount for an approach road in the area concerned and shifting the previous mining location from Domiasiat to Phodkylleng-Pyndengsohiong.

The UCIL has released Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the land owners for construction of the road. The sum has been paid to ten parties through Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council for the construction of the 14.5 km road from Wahkaji to Mawthabah.

Official sources today said with the compensation paid, the road was expected to be completed soon and then the first phase of the proposed uranium project at Phodkylleng-Pyndengsohiong would start.

For past several years, people in mining areas of the state had been vociferously protesting against uranium mining apprehending health hazards due to radiation.

The UCIL and government's repeated assurance could not pacify the agitators who till recently did not allow the project to come up in Domiasiat in the same district.

Despite strong opposition and sustained campaigning against this project by some local NGOs including the Khasi Students' Union and Langrin Youth Welfare Association (LYWA), majority of the people from Phodkylleng-Pyndengsohiong agreed to the UCIL's project.

A source said out of 12 families at Domiasiat, 11 families had agreed to allow mining in the area adding it could not materialise because of resistance of one family.

The source said the UCIL's project stood at about Rs 1050 crore.

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