No move by Centre to mine uranium in Meghalaya: AMD

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 3, 2022

The Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) North East Region, Shillong on Wednesday said there has been no attempt by the government of India to proceed with mining of uranium in Meghalaya.

This was informed by its Regional Director Dr P Kumar to a delegation of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) during a meeting held here.

“He (Dr Kumar) told us there is no attempt to further mine uranium in the state. As of now Meghalaya is out of the list of the AMD in North East India. AMD is taking exploration work in states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and others,” HSPDP president KP Pangniang told reporters.

He said the Regional Director also reminded that the state government of Meghalaya had already taken a decision to revoke the lease agreement for pre-mining activities on 442 hectares of land at Domiasiat and Nongbah Jynrin on August 1, 2016.

“Since the government had revoked the order to allow the UCIL for pre-mining at Domiasiat so till today the government of India stand is clear not to do further exploration for uranium mining in Meghalaya,” Pangniang added.

The HSPDP chief said that the party also reiterated its stand that no mining of uranium should be allowed in Meghalaya.

“We will protest and we will not allow mining of uranium in our state as there is a threat to the lives and properties of the people. The HSPDP will never accept if there is such an attempt to take up uranium mining. To this, the Regional Director said that until and unless the people of the state express their willingness, the government of India will not do anything,” he said..

HSPDP secretary Panborlang Ryntathiang said the AMD official also informed that the office of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) has also been shut down in Meghalaya since 2018.

Meanwhile, the HSPDP also asked the state government to make public the report into the alleged radiation leakage from the uranium tanks in South West Khasi Hills district.