Meghalaya consitutes all-party panel on Uranium mining

Shillong, June 25 (UNI): The Meghalaya government today approved to constitute an all-party panel to study the proposed uranium mining in West Khasi Hills district, that rages controversy across the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma told this to reporters after a cabinet meeting that approved the proposal for having an all party panel to study pros and cons of uranimum mining in the state.

The proposal was made by the coalition partners of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance after the state witnessed controversy over the uranium mining.

The all-party panel will be headed by the Deputy Chief Minister would draw members from different political parties and nuclear experts in the state.

This decision assumed significance in the backdrop of two regional allies- the Hill State People's Democratic Party and Khun Hynniewtrep Awakening Movement - of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance had opposed mining of nuclear ore at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong and setting up of Uranium processing plant at Mawthabah.

"I will soon write to the presidents of different political parties to nominate their members for the panel,'' Dr Sangma said.

Recently, the coalition partners of the MDA had decided to formed a committee to examine the pros and cons of uranium mining after the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board conducted its public hearing on Uranium Corporation of India Limited's Rs 814 crore uranium ore mining project.

The newly constituted committee would also study the report of the Board's public hearing and then submits it views to the government.

About 75 per cent of the 700 people attended the recent public hearing at Nongbah Jynrin, opposed to mining of uranium fearing of health and environmental hazards.

However, 35 per cent of the people from proposed project vicinity welcome the project for the sake of development in their areas.

UNI