UCIL-funded developmental project put on hold in Meghalaya

Shillong, Nov 4 : The Meghalaya government has put on hold for three months the implementation of 'pre-mining developmental project' in the proposed open-cast uranium mining areas of West Khasi Hills district.

Today, Chief Minister D D Lapang who went into a huddle with several anti-uranium groups - Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and Coordination Committee of Social Organisations (CCSO)-- also constituted a Joint Action on Uranium Mining of Meghalaya (JCUMM) to find out the pros and cons of uranium mining in the state.

The committee, headed by Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Mining and Geology Bindo M Lanong, would comprise seven members from CCSO, KSU each, environmentalists, independent groups and media representatives.

JCUMM would study the controversial Uranium mining subject and come up with a report for the government within three months.

'' It was agreed that the pre-development project in the 422 square hectares of land in the proposed mining area would be kept on hold for three months,'' Mr Lapang told reporters after the meeting with the anti-mining groups.

He, however, informed that the government would go ahead with development projects in non-mining areas of West Khasi Hills district soon.

'' The Centre has assured us of Rs 2098 crore for developing 10 major roads in West Khasi Hills district and Rs 188 crore for upgradation of college and construction of a stadium in Nongstoin and other infrastructures,'' the Chief Minister said.

Mr Lapang said the KSU, which spearheaded the anti-uranium protest, is opened to the developmental works outside the proposed mining areas.

Denying that the government is succumbing to the pressure by anti-uranium groups, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul M Sangma who was also present at the meeting, said, '' we are involving more people in the discussion on the issue and our intention is to give ear to the concerns expressed by all sections of people.'' He pointed out that political parties like HSPDP and KHNAM who sought vote with anti-Uranium mining as one of its election manifesto in the last Assembly elections was rejected by the people.

'' It means that people did not vote for these parties and therefore suggest the people’s mandate is not against Uranium mining,'' Dr Sangma, in-charge of power, observed.

Emerging out of the meeting with the Chief Minister, KSU president Samuel B Jyrwa said the Union has accepted the government’s proposal to constitute a committee of experts to study the pros and cons of uranium mining.

'' We welcome the government's decision to put on hold the pre-mining developmental project and formation of a Committee on Uranium Mining,'' he said.

The CCSO, a conglomeration of five pressure groups, which also welcomed the government’s decision, suggested that no defeated politician should be included in JCUMM rather preferring experts to be included in the committee.

'' We will do our own homework to find out the best uranium experts to be included in the committee from our side,'' CCSO Chairman Wellbirth Rani said.

The proposed Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong-Mawthabah Uranium Project in the state has been hanging in fire for three decades due to opposition from tribesmen of the state.

Various groups, including political parties, were opposing mining of uranium apprehending health and environmental hazards following the uranium projects.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
Unauthorised publication of any content from NewKerala.Com is prohibited