Prohibitory order clamped ahead of Uranium public hearing

Shillong, June 9 (UNI) Prohibitory orders have been clamped in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district ahead of the public hearing on Uranium mining scheduled at Nongbah Jynrin village on June 12.

The district administration of West Khasi Hills promulgated the order under Section 144 of the CrPC with a view to ensuring peace and tranquility during the proposed public hearing.

The order also prohibits obstruction to functioning of trade activities, movement of vehicular traffic and carrying of arms, lethal weapons, explosives and inflammable substances.

While here in Shillong, the district administration of East Khasi Hills has taken all necessary steps to ensure normalcy during the 36-hour bandh called by the Khasi Student's Union (KSU) from 0500 hours of June 11 to 1700 hours on June 12 in protest against the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) public hearing.

The fresh KSU-sponsored bandh would be effective in Shillong, KSU leader Mebanker Lapang said.

The ruling Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) has directed all government employees to attend office on June 11 and 12 'without fail'.

''Pay cut would be imposed apart from taking other actions against those who would not turn up in the office on the two days,'' a government communique said, adding that ''officers sanctioned with vehicles are to take out their vehicles and bring them to office on these days. Failing to do so will result in vehicle being withdrawn and allotted to other officers.'' The MSPCB has summoned for public hearing at Nongbah Jynrin following the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) proposal to develop an open-cast mining of uranium ore at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong and a processing plant at the Mawthabah.

The KSU, which is spearheading the anti-uranium mining movement in the state for over a decade has termed the holding of public hearing to facilitate mining of Uranium in West Khasi Hills district.

The regional allies of MDA government--the United Democratic Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement--had suggested keeping the Pollution Control Board's public hearing in abeyance.

UNI