Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister D D
Lapang has asserted that the state government's decision to
lease land to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL)
was in line with the aspirations of land owners and locals.
"All the land owners have told the government that it
can go ahead with the pre-project development works (in the
uranium-rich areas of West Khasi Hills). They have made an
agreement in black and white," Lapang told reporters last
night, amid a stand-off between pro and anti-uranium mining
groups over the government's move.
The Meghalaya cabinet had last week decided to lease
422 sq hectares of land having uranium deposits in West Khasi
Hills for 30 years to UCIL for pre-project developmental
works. The UCIL had agreed to earmark Rs 209 crore to carry
out pre-project development programmes, including healthcare
facilities, power, drinking water, educational institutions
and roads.
The mining issue in Meghalaya has been hanging fire
for over two decades now with some prominent NGOs and
political parties, including the influential Khasi Students'
Union (KSU), 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.
Yesterday, around 60 pro uranium mining groups formed a
committee to support the government's move for the sake of
development of the state, while on the other hand the
influential Khasi Students Union set a deadline of 15 days for
the state government to revoke its decision.
The land owners and local organisations of the proposed
mining area of Kyllang-Pyndeng-Sohiong-Mawthabah in the West
Khasi Hills have demanded that mining be allowed as this would
bring about large scale development in the area.
Lapang, however, maintained that there has no land
transfer to UCIL. We have only leased out the land.
While there has been enough indications that the leasing of
land is a virtual nod to the uranium mining project, now
estimated at over Rs 1000 crore, the Chief Minister
maintained, "we will look into the mining part of the UCIL
proposal at a later stage."
According to UCIL estimates, there could be 3,75,000 tonnes
of uranium deposits in Meghalaya. While exploratory mining was
done more than one and half decade back, the mining project is
yet to start due to opposition from various individuals and
organisations who have apprehended health and environmental
hazards.
Yesterday, around 60 pro uranium mining groups formed a
committee to support the government's move for the sake of
development of the state, while on the other hand the
influential Khasi Students Union set a deadline of 15 days for
the state government to revoke its decision.
The land owners and local organisations of the proposed
mining area of Kyllang-Pyndeng-Sohiong-Mawthabah in the West
Khasi Hills have demanded that mining be allowed as this would
bring about large scale development in the area.
Lapang, however, maintained that there has no land
transfer to UCIL. We have only leased out the land.
While there has been enough indications that the leasing of
land is a virtual nod to the uranium mining project, now
estimated at over Rs 1000 crore, the Chief Minister
maintained, "we will look into the mining part of the UCIL
proposal at a later stage."
According to UCIL estimates, there could be 3,75,000 tonnes
of uranium deposits in Meghalaya. While exploratory mining was
done more than one and half decade back, the mining project is
yet to start due to opposition from various individuals and
organisations who have apprehended health and environmental
hazards.
Bureau Report