DAE plans to develop uranium deposits in Meghalaya: Govt

NEW DELHI: The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has planned to develop large deposits of uranium in Meghalaya that have the potential to generate substantial nuclear fuel for atomic power plants in the country, the government said on Wednesday.
In a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which looks after DAE, said it has already planned to develop the mineral resources at Domiasiat under the name of ‘Kylleng- Pdengsohiong-Mawthabah (KPM) Uranium Mining Project’.
“Uranium mineralisation in Meghalaya has been found over a large area around Domiasiat, Wahkyn, Lostoin. The project has the potential to generate substantial nuclear fuel for the atomic power plants of the country,” Singh said, adding that a detailed project report has been approved by the Atomic Energy Commission.
“Environmental clearance for this project has been obtained from the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change in December 2007. An agreement has also been signed between UCIL and the land owners of the project site in May 2007 for acquisition of land on annual lease rent basis.
“Approval to execute land lease with land owners, grant of mining lease and consent for establishment has been taken up with the Meghalaya government,” Singh said.
This comes at a time when Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had asserted that the Government would not go ahead with uranium mining without the consent of people.
At present, the Uranium Corporation of India Limited has uranium mining projects in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. (PTI)