Govt seeks BARC's report

Shillong, Jun 27 : Meghalaya government has sought Bhabha Atomic Research Centre's (BARC) report on the effects of radiation caused by Uranium mining, state Mining and Geology minister Prestone Tynsong said here today.

Informing the Assembly, Mr Tynsong said BARC has mentioned in its report that 'at the estimated dose of 0.02 milli-sievert per year in public domain in the immediate vicinity attributable to the mining operation, no undesirable health impact is expected.' Replying to a query by Independent MLA Pynshai Manik, the Mining and Geology minister said the Uranium Corporation of India Limited has submitted an application on October 12, 2004 to the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board to study the environment impact of uranimum mining in West Khasi Hills district.

He said the state Pollution Control Board was still studying the environment impact.

Meanwhile, Hills State People's Democratic Party legislator Hoping Stone Lyngdoh informed the members of the House that Uranium mining was not conducive as it could cause many diseases like impotency of soft organs, leukemia, epilepsy, cancer and other diseases.

UNI