SHILLONG: The KHADC Executive Committee (EC) has decided to renew the trading license of West Bengal based firm, Maheshwari Mining Private Limited which was assigned by the Atomic Energy department to look for Uranium in Porkut area in Nongri in West Khasi Hills on the condition that the firm submits all the relevant documents to the Council.
Addressing newsmen following the Council’s EC meeting here on Tuesday, Deputy CEM Teinwell Dkhar said the decision was taken considering the June 14, 2013 High Court order which directed the Council to renew the trading license of the firm.
Dkhar recalled that the Council had issued a notice on April 24, 2012 directing the firm to close down all its operations within a month’s time.
Several NGOs had demanded the cancellation of the trading license of the firm which was held responsible for the death of thousands of fishes at Ranikor due to illegal mining being conducted by it for exploratory drilling of uranium ore.
During the last term, lone KHNAM MDC, Adelbert Nongrum had come down heavily on the Congress-led Executive Committee for allegedly allowing Maheshwari Mining Private Limited to continue its exploration despite claiming that it had cancelled its trading license.