SHILLONG: The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has reiterated their anti-uranium mining stand and at the same time raised fresh concerns over the construction of mega dams in almost all the states of the Northeastern region.
Speaking to reporters after a consultation meeting here on Wednesday, NEDF consultant P.B.M. Basaiawmoit said, “We have been saying no to uranium mining since 1992, but the recent proposed commercial mining of uranium has accentuated the issue.”
He observed that if uranium is mined in the State it will risk the lives of the people who will bear the same fate as the victims in Jaduguda in Jharkhand, India’s first uranium mine, who suffered high doses of radiation from toxic wastes emanating from uranium mining.
Speaking on clean energy, Basaiawmoit underlined the need to resort to use of non-conventional sources of energy like solar and wind energy instead of nuclear fuel which poses a grave threat to human lives through radiation.
Echoing Basaiawmoit, Kishore Singh from Manipur said, “The Central government can opt for renewable sources of energy instead of mining uranium to generate energy.”
“The report of the Central Electricity Authority that the total capacity of renewable energy projects has been expanded to 42,850 MW reveals that India is capable of tapping renewable resources,” he added.
Another member of the Forum from Tripura, Anthony Deb Barma, stated that no impact assessment of uranium mining has been done so far. “People need to be addressed on the impact uranium mining has on the environment as development should not destroy the lives of the people.”
Stating that consent of the people is mandatory, he expressed surprise that the Central government did not find it necessary to seek the consent of the indigenous people.
“The entire North East Region has abundance of resources. Let the people of the North East decide on the future and not the authorities in Delhi.”
The forum also opposed construction of mega dams, observing that dams have affected villages. “Dams have been producing power but people’s land is being taken away.”
In this connection, the forum has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers in charge of Home Affairs, Tribal Affairs, DoNER, Law, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Power, and also to the governor and chief minister of Meghalaya.
