Uranium mining essential for state's development: KHADC

Shillong, June 7 (UNI) Khasi Hills Autnoumous District Council (KHADC) chief executive member Hispreaching Son Shylla today said extraction of Uranium in Meghalaya should take place despite opposition by various lobbies.

After signing an agreement with the land owners for the construction of the 20 Km Wahkaji-Mawthabah road, he told mediapersons that there was no need of sending experts to study the feasibity of uranium ore extraction at Wahkaji-Pyndengsohoing-Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya.

Mr Shylla, who is an advocate of Uranium mining, slammed Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) P R Kyndiah for his 'irresponsible' statement on the issue.

''I am surprised by Kyndiah's statement that the Centre will not intervene on the Uranium mining issue without the approval of the state,'' he said.

However, he noted that ''Uranium mining was a central subject and the Centre has every right to interfere into it.'' The KHADC gained upper hand today on the Uranium issue following clan elders Lyngdoh Langrin and Lyngdoh Sangriang entering into an agreement with the Council to go ahead with the construction of the Wahkaji-Mawthabah road.

The clan elders said that they have welcomed construction of the road despite the anti-uranium mining groups led by the Khasi Students' Union believe that the road was mainly to facilitate the proposed mining.

Last month, the anti-mining groups had dismantled the foundation stone at Wahkaji, which was supposed to be inaugurated by Atomic Department secretary Anil Kadkokar.

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