NCP MP to involve Parliamentarians to oppose Uranium mining

Shillong, June 5 (UNI) Chief Whip of the Nationalist Congress Party in Rajya Sabha Robert Kharshiing today mooted the idea of involving MPs across party lines to oppose Uranium mining in all tribal areas.

Mr Kharshiing's plan assumed significance in the wake of the public hearing on June 12 in Meghalaya's Nongbah Jynrin near the proposed mining site at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Uranium ore and processing plant at Mawthabah.

''I will take up this matter with the CPM and Congress MPs from Andhra Pradesh to oppose Uranium mining in any tribal area of the country,'' Mr Kharshiing told reporters here.

Eulogizing the Congress allies in the state - the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party(HSPDP) and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement(KHNAM) for opposing Uranium mining, the lone Rajya Sabha MP from Meghalaya appealed to the Chief Minister to convene an all-party meeting to discuss this sensitive issue.

He said independent reports had shown that Uranium mining could cause health hazards and environmental problems. ''In fact, there are reports which say that Meghalaya could be the next state in the country to face environmental disasters like those in Jadugoda,'' the former Khasi Student's Union(KSU) president said.

Urging the government not to harass the KSU leaders who were agitating against Uranium mining, Mr Kharshiing said in a democratic country like India, everybody has the right to express their views and the government must respect the difference of opinions.

UNI