SHILLONG: The KHADC has decided to debar West Bengal-based firm Maheswari Mining Private Limited (MMPL) from uranium drilling operation in South West Khasi Hills with immediate effect.
The action has been taken for misleading the Council on area of operation.
Informing this here on Tuesday, Executive Member in-charge Trade, Latiplang Kharkongor told newsmen that the decision was taken after it was detected that the firm was carrying out drilling operation in some areas without obtaining permission from the Council.
According to him, the enforcement wing of the Council had conducted an inspection on May 1 last and found that the Bengal-based firm was carrying out drilling in the areas for which it had not got permission.
“But the representatives of the firm tried to mislead the enforcement staff by showing a court order where they had been given permission to conduct drilling at Weikut, Nongkulang villages, which are 9 km away from Wahkut and Porkut in Nongjri, for which the firm had originally obtained permission to carry out its operation.
“It was later found out that the company had applied for the renewal of license for Wahkut and Porkut,” he said.
“But the firm was carrying the drilling activity at Weikut which is illegal,” he said adding that the company also got a land agreement done with the Nongbri clan without the knowledge of the Council.
Kharkongor also informed that an executive order has been passed by the Council to cancel the license of the firm (for operation in Weikut).
The EM in-charge Trade also informed that the council will summon the Syiem and clans for giving NoC to this company without informing the council.
