Cong to decide on APC on Uranium mining

Shillong, Jul 4 (UNI) The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee would soon meet to decide if it would be a part of the government constituted All-Party Committee on Uranium mining in the state.

Earlier, the state Congress rejected the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government's invitation to be part of the panel, saying it was a waste of time being a part of the All Party Committee which he felt was the MPA's 'political gimmick.' '' We are going to meet on July 12 to take a final decision on the Chief Minister's invitation to be part of the All Party Committee,'' MPCC President O L Nongtdu told UNI here today.

The Congress Legislature Party yesterday decided to participate in the All Party committee headed by Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy.

Mr Nongtdu said all the Congress legislators who are special invitees in the executive committee meeting are free to give their views on uranium mining during the MPCC meeting.

Earlier, Dr Roy had expressed surprise at the Opposition Congress distancing itself from the All Party panel on Uranium in the state.

'' I have constituted the All Party Committee after the leader of Opposition D D Lapang had suggested us to do so to reach a consensus on the uranium mining,'' Dr Roy said.

The UCIL had planned to develop open cast mining for production of 375,000 tonne of uranium deposits at Kylleng-Pyndeng-Sohiong village and a processing plant at Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district.

Uranium ore deposits there have an average grade of 0.085 per cent.

It also offered an economic package for all round socio-economic development of the area.

Despite all commitment, the UCIL has failed to drum up support for the project, with several NGOs and anti-mining civil and human rights groups opposing it, citing human safety and environmental hazard due to radiation.

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