Meghalaya forms three expert groups on Uranium mining

Shillong, Jul 18 (UNI) The Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government today decided to form three experts groups to study the insinuation of the ''Kylleng-Pyndeng-Sohiong-Mawthabah'' uranium project in West Khasi Hills district of the state.

'' We have decided that three expert groups should be formed to give us correct reports on the affects of allowing uranium mining, '' Chief Minister Donkupar Roy said after chairing the first meeting of the all party committee on Uranium mining.

The meeting was attended by coalition partners of the MPA, Nationalist Congress Party, United Democratic Party, Hills State People's Democratic Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) besides opposition Congress.

Of the three expert groups, Dr Roy said one expert group will be from outside the state and the other two from within Meghalaya.

He said one of the expert groups from Meghalaya will consist of officials from the state Health department.

Dr Roy said the Health department officials will go to Domasiat, where some of the local people were involved in exploration of Uranium with the officials of the Atomic Mineral Division (AMD) in 1991.

'' These health officials will find out the status of health of the local people, involved in the exploration work, and report to the committee, '' he added.

Mr Roy informed that the other two expert groups will study and report on the overall implication of allowing mining of Uranium mining.

'' We are all concerned over the effect of Uranium radiation on the health of the local people. Before deciding we want to know the effect of mining, '' the Chief Minister said.

The State Health department officials will also visit Jadugoda to study the implication of mining on the local people there.

The all-party panel, headed by the Chief Minister, was constituted to discuss the contentious issue of whether to allow the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) to mine uranium in State's West Khasi Hills district.

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