75 per cent of people opposed the public hearing

Shillong, Jun 12 (UNI) About 75 per cent of the people, who attended the public hearing on Uranium mining at Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district, opposed the UCIL's proposed nuke project.

District Deputy Commissioner Freemunt Kharlyngdoh here today said the rest of the people had given there consent to go forward with the Uranium mining.

Despite a 36-hour bandh called by the Khasi Student's Union (KSU), the public hearing passed off smoothly with no reports of untoward incidents , Mr Kharlyngdoh said.

The State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) had called for a public hearing at Nongbah Jynrin village, about 150 km from here, to assess public opinion on Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL's) proposed plan for an open cast mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong and an Uranium Ore and Processing Plant at Mawthabah.

MSPCB officials have recorded the views and suggestions made by tribal-land owners before senior government, Atomic Mineral Division and UCIL officials.

The Meghalaya People's Human Rights Council, which opposed Uranium mining in the area, had sent a written 13-point objection to the MSPCB.

''We have recorded all their views and suggestions on the proposed project. Now we will submit our report to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board for environmental clearance,'' a senior MSCPB official told UNI over the phone.

Chief Minister D D Lapang had also expressed his satisfaction over the outcome of the hearing, that started from 1000 hours and concluded at about 1330 hours.

UNI