Giving in to pressure from agitating organisations, Meghalaya government has decided to put on hold the UCIL's pre-mining developmental works in the uranium-rich areas of the state and formed a committee to look into the apprehensions.
CAPITULATING TO pressure from agitating organizations, Meghalaya government decided to put on hold the UCIL’s pre-mining developmental works in the uranium-rich areas of Meghalaya and formed a committee to look into the apprehensions expressed by the protesting groups.
The decision was taken by the government during a meeting with representatives from the agitation organisations led by the Khasi Students Union (KSU). “The Joint Committee on Uranium mining to be chaired by Deputy Chief Minister (in charge mining) BM Lanong, will comprise members from the agitation groups, scientists, environmentalists and other experts. It will try to address the concerns expressed by the organizations,” Meghalaya Chief Minister DD Lapang said after the meeting. The committee has been given three months for the exercise and after it submits its recommendations, the government will decide whether to go ahead with the proposed UCIL’s pre-mining developmental works, Lapang said.
Lapang also dismissed claims by the protesting groups that the pre-project developmental activities by the UCIL were meant to facilitate the uranium mining project. “As per an agreement with the UCIL, the project was divided into two phases – one the developmental works and the other the actual mining. The Government have given the nod for the developmental activities only” Lapang pointed out.Deputy Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said “the committee will create a platform for engagement of all stakeholders to mitigate the all concerns, including apprehensions of health and environmental hazards. The committee will facilitate exercises like workshops, panel discussions, debates and tours in the process before coming up with recommendations”.Expressing satisfaction on the approach of the Government,Coordination Committee of Social Organisation (CCSO) chairman Willbert Ranee said “Government has accepted their request toput on hold the UCIL’s pre-mining developmental works in the uranium-rich areas of Meghalaya. However, he has also pointed out that if government changes its stated the organisation will again switch on to agitational programmes”.KSU president Samuel Jyrwa said “the students’ body was satisfied with the government decision, but said if any health or environmental hazards come to the notice of the committee, it will decide its future course of action then”. The KSU has been protesting the Lapang cabinet’s decision to lease 422 hectares land in the uranium-rich West Khasi Hills district of the state to UCIL for pre-project developmetal works. The UCIL had agreed to earmark Rs 209 crore to carry out pre-project development programmes, including health care facilities, power, drinking water, educational institutions and roads.The state had witnessed sporadic incidents of violence, particularly burning of vehicles and government offices, during seven night road blockades called last month. Besides, the Coordination Committee of Social Organizations had also called a series of agitations to protest the government move. The mining issue in Meghalaya has been hanging fire for more than two decades now with some prominent NGOs and political parties vehemently opposed to the proposal on the grounds that it would lead to degradation of the environment besides opening the floodgates for outsiders into the tribal state. Explorations by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research done two decades back estimated there could be over 16,000 tonnes of uranium ore in theMahadekBasinof the state.
