Tender floated for construction of open pit mine, processing plant in South West Khasi Hills
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has warned the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) that if it carries out uranium mining in the State, it will be at its own risk.
When asked about the tender notice of the UCIL related to Expression of Interest issued on July 2 with an intention to carry out mining of uranium, the chief minister told reporters on Thursday that the matter has been briefed by the Political department and there has been no engagement between the State and the central government to this effect.
According to the chief minister, if UCIL carries out mining it will be at its own risk since it might have a lot of ramifications in terms of law and order situation in the State.
“Law and order is a State Subject. If the UCIL goes ahead with its plan, it will be doing so at its own risk since it will have a lot of ramifications in terms of the law and order scenario,” he said.
As per the tender notice, the Chairman and Managing Director, Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Government of India Enterprises, under the administrative control of Department of Atomic Energy, is planning to set up open-pit mine and processing plant of uranium ore in South West Khasi Hills district.
“The project is in the process of approval by the competent authority. UCIL invites applications for ‘Expression of Interest’ from resourceful and competent Indian Companies/ Joint Ventures/ Consortium for undertaking activities such as providing consultancy services for obtaining the remaining statutory clearances and pending activities such as consent for establishment, permission for construction water storage with-drawl and use, sanction for power supply, land acquisition, mining lease, forest land diversion, public consultation and others leading to successful opening of the project and its subsequent uninterrupted operation” the notice said.
The tender notice also elaborates about the construction of infrastructure facilities such as approach road, bridges and culverts, water storage arrangement and intake well in the nearest adequate source, pumping and pipeline facility for uninterrupted round the year supply to the project site, raw water treatment plant at the project site, transmission line for power supply, communication, switch yard for receipt of main electrical power supply for the project, overburden removal (2.60 million tonnes per annum), excavation in ore body (3,75,000 tonnes uranium ore annually) and supply to processing plant, site development like jungle cleaning, land grading and drainage system of process plant area, construction of tailings dam and check dam and laying of tailings disposal and effluent transfer pipelines, construction of non plant buildings and other site facilities like training centre, time office, security barrack, canteen, fire station, store building, workshop, township and other amenities.