Scrap tender or face agitation: KSU to UCIL

NONGSTOIN: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) West Khasi Hills District Unit has now demanded the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL) to immediately scrap the tender notice floated for uranium mining at Kylleng Pynden Umiong in Mawthabah area.
The Union also sought the cancellation of the 30-year lease agreement signed between the UCIL and the state government.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, president of KSU’s WKH unit, John F Nongsiang warned that if the UCIL fails to scrap the tender, the Union will launch a series of agitation against the project. Nongsiang also stated that the state government should not have taken a hasty decision to lease out the land to UCIL.
“It is clear that the state government is least bothered about the health hazards associated with uranium mining,” Nongsiang added
The KSU leader also claimed that during a meeting held at the residence of Shillong MP Vincent H Pala in the presence of traditional heads of Maweit area on June 20, the parliamentarian made it clear that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) will sanction a road project from Nongstoin-Maweit-Nongjri to Ranikor mainly for transportation of uranium.
The Union, meanwhile, slammed Ranikor MDC, Manstudy Nongrem for demanding NOC for the double lane road project from Nongstoin to Mawthabah. The KSU went ahead to call Nongrem a UCIL agent who was working against the interests of the people.
The Union also decided to organize a public meeting at Nongstoin on the uranium mining issue and called upon its members to be prepared to fight for the cause.