FITPA urges Prime Minister to withdraw Uranium project

Shillong, June 11 (UNI) The Federation of Indigenous and Tribal People's in Asia (FITPA) today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to withdraw the proposed mining of Uranium in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district.

The FITPA's appeal assumed significance ahead of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board's public hearing tomorrow at Nongbah Jynrin village, on Uranium mining.

The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had proposed to develop an open-cast mining of Uranium are at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong and processing plant at Mawthabah.

''A controversial and potentially violent situation prevails in Meghalaya today due to the Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Uranium Ore Mining and Processing Project proposal that has been resisted by the people of Meghalaya for over 15 years. The related Public Hearing notification appeals the Dr Singh to withdraw this proposal for all times to come,'' FITPA Pro tem President Soyelo Posheno Wetsah said in a press statement.

He added that, ''The bright future of the indigenous tribal people of Meghalaya must not be sacrificed for a destructive project.'' ''Recent experiences in the country have clearly demonstrated that without a consent, the government's move to continue such a project can only be termed as ham-handed, ill-conceived and ill-advised,'' Mr Wetsah said.

For over one and a half decades now, the UCIL has been trying to develop an open-cast mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong and other adjoining villages and a processing unit at Mawthabah in West Khasi hills district.

The mining project estimated at Rs 300 crore in 1992 and revised to Rs 814 crore, was first opposed by Meghalaya's oldest political party, the Hills State People's Democratic Party, and later backed by the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, KSU, Meghalaya People's Human Rights Council and Langrin Youth Welfare Association.

The anti-mining groups have opposed the project fearing health and environment hazards in the state.

The influential Khasi Student's Union (KSU) has called for a 36-hour bandh which began this morning, opposing the public hearing.

Samuel Jyrwa, leader of the student's body said holding of such hearing was meant to facilitate the project, which according to him can pose a serious threat to the local people.

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 MSPCB's public hearing in abeyance.

UNI