Meghalaya Govt yet to take decision on Uranium mining

Shillong, Jun 26 (UNI) The ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government today clarified that no decision on extraction of Uranium mining at Wakhaji-Pyndemsohiong-Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district has been taken yet.

Meghalaya Minister in-charge of Mining and Geology Prestone Tynsong told the Assembly that the government was unable to take a decision as the application of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited is under scrutiny by the Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills.

Maintaining that the Deputy Commissioner has not submitted a report so far, Mr Tynsong said the government is yet to be informed of the percentage of landowners who agreed to part with their land for extraction of Uranium ore.

However, Mr Tynsong said, the government would examine the matter only after the Deputy Commissioner submits the report to the state government.

The UCIL had submitted its application to the Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills district on October 15, he said adding that the state government has constituted a cabinet committee in 2003 to look into the matter.

Informing the House that the UCIL has allotted Rs five crores to the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council to construct a 20 km Wahkaji-Mawthabah road, the Mining and Geology minister made it clear that the state government under no circumstances would allow the Uranium mining company to apply a 'divide and rule' policy.

'' The government will not entertain divide and rule, played by the UCIL sidelineing the state government on such serious issues'', Mr Tynsong clearly stated.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Member of the KHADC had urged the government to grant license to the UCIL for Uranium exploration in West Khasi Hills district.

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