SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Students’ Union South West Khasi Hills (KSU-SWHD) has demanded the withdrawal of the tender notice floated by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) and slammed the corporation for its haste to mine uranium at Mawthabah, South West Khasi Hills.
Addressing media persons on Saturday, the KSU-SWHD general secretary, Forwardman Nongrem said, “The state government and the KHADC should penalize the UCIL which went ahead with floating the tender notice sans clearance from the Government and taking cognizance of the non-compliance of the corporation, the State Government should act upon it by calling for withdrawal of the tender notice.”
Voicing opposition to the pre-mining development activities of the UCIL and urging the people to not fall for its ploy, “The UCIL has tried to mislead the people by offering them money and we urge the public to not fall in their trap”.
The KSU-SWHD took exception to the tender notice of the UCIL on July 2 for the setting up of Open Pit Mine, Processing Plant and others at Mawthabah, and said, “We oppose the two lane project sanctioned by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways as the target of the UCIL is to mine uranium.”
Setting a word caution to the corporation that they will not allow the corporation to step in the region again, Nongrem said, “We will not allow any survey to be conducted or open cast mining by the UCIL.”
Referring to Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s warning against any attempt by the UCIL to mine uranium, he said, “The Chief Minister should not pretend but instead act upon the serious issue and maintain no clandestine activity with UCIL.
Nongrem allegedly accused MP Vincent Pala, and a number of pro-road NGOs as agents of UCIL, he said, “It is our misfortune that we have Pala as MP.”
On the other hand the KSU lauded the KHADC CEM for taking a stand for not issuing a NOC to the company for implementing the road project, he said, “The road project should be ceased as it is link to uranium mining.”
