MDA allies oppose public hearing on uranium mining

Shillong, May 30: Two ruling partners of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance(MDA)-the Hill State People's Democratic Party(HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement(KHNAM) have opposed public hearing on uranium mining in the state.

''Uranium mining is a state issue. Holding of 'Environmental Public Hearing' at one particular place is only an 'eyewash' aimed at manipulating the public hearing in favour of the pro-uranium lobbies,'' KHNAM General Secretary Erwin Sutnga said.

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board(MSPCB) had decided to hold a public hearing at Nongbah Jynrin village on June 12 in view of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited's(UCIL) proposal to develop an open cast mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Uranium ore and processing project at the Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district.

Several anti-mining lobbies, including the powerful Khasi Student Union(KSU), Meghalaya People's Human Rights Council, Langrin Youth Welfare Association and others have opposed to the public hearing.

''If the government decides to go ahead with the proposed public hearing, we have no other option but to take to streets against it,'' KSU president Samuel Jyrwa said.

Chief Executive Member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council Son Shylla, who termed the anti-mining lobbies as ''anti-nationals,''emphasised that the uranium project in Meghalaya was in the interest of the people and the state as a whole.

''The uranium from Meghalaya would be used for generating electricity and for nuclear energy needs of the country,'' Mr Shylla said. He claimed that there would be no health hazards due to mining of the highly radioactive metal.

Mr Shylla asked the Election Commission calling for ''ban on the state political parties'' who were opposed to uranium mining in the state.

Meanwhile, the government had deployed one platoon of state police to maintain law and order in the Wahkaji-Mawthabah villages and the proposed uranium mining site due to difference of opinions among the tribal land-owners.

However, no untoward incident was reported.

The Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) had found uranium oxide reserves estimating 9,500 tonne in the state. The sandstone type uranium deposits in Meghalaya were the largest, richest, near-surface and low-cost discovered in India so far, UCIL officials claimed.

UNI