HSPDP calls its own public hearing Uranium mining

Shillong, May 27 (UNI) The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) has opposed the proposed public hearing at Nongbah Jynrin village on June 12, regarding proposed uranium mining in Meghalaya.

The HSPDP, an ally of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, has termed the public hearing as 'conspiracy against the interest of the people of West Khasi Hills'.

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board's (MSPCB) has decided to hold a public hearing following the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had proposed to develop an open cast mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Uranium ore and processing project at the Mawthabah in state's West Khasi Hills district.

''If the real purpose of the public hearing is to hear to views of the people of the district then it should have been organised in the district headquarters and not in a remote village,'' HSPDP leader Hopingstone Lyngdoh said.

Mr Lyngdoh said the HSPDP has also decided to hold a public meeting on June 4 at Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills on June 4 to highlight the ill-effects of Uranium mining.

The main reason for organising the public hearing outside the district headquarters is to get the opinion of those people who are already in favour of uranium mining and the reason for their support is because they have got some benefits from the UCIL.

Meanwhile, the indigenous people of the Hima Langrin and Hima Maram have decided to hold a separate public meeting on June 5 at Umdohlun village to oppose the public hearing.

The project estimated at a cost of Rs 814 crore, was strongly opposed by the HSPDP and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, which are the allies of Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, the Khasi Student's Union, Meghalaya People's Human Rights Council and Langrin Youth Welfare Association.

The anti-mining groups opposed mining of uranium in the state fearing health and environment hazards in the state.

UNI