Pollution Board to conduct hearing on Uranium under tight security

Shillong, June 11 (UNI) A team of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) officials to conduct a public hearing on Uranium mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Uranium ore and processing plant at Mawthabah tomorrow left Shillong today.

The team headed by MSPCB Member Secretary D Horoo, would conduct the hearing at Nongbah Jynrin area, about 150 km from here, amidst the ongoing 36-hour Khasi Student's Union (KSU) bandh, opposing the public hearing.

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

The hearing will be conducted under tight security in view of the stiff opposition from anti-mining lobbies.

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.

The MSPCB decided to hold the hearing to assess the public opinion of UCIL's proposed plan for an open cast mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Uranium ore and processing plant at Mawthabah.

The Pollution Board will record views and suggestions of the public on the proposed project and later submitted its report to Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for environmental clearance, a senior MSCPB official told UNI here today.

For over one-and-half-decade 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.

UNI