KSU, NESO reiterate opposition to uranium mining

SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) have vehemently opposed any move of the Centre to develop large deposits of uranium in Meghalaya.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Thursday, KSU president Daniel Khyriem said that the Union would continue to oppose uranium mining in Meghalaya, be it an initiative of the State or the Central Government.
“In the last meeting with the Chief Minister, the KSU had made its stand clear that it would continue to oppose uranium mining until a common understanding of all stakeholders is reached on the issues and all the apprehensions of the people addressed,” he said.
The KSU chief further said that the Central Government is provoking the people by calling for tenders for mining in Meghalaya.
“This direct provoking on the part of the Centre is unnecessary,” Khyriem said and added that the KSU had made its stand crystal clear to the Centre’s representatives when they had visited Meghalaya in 2009 to discuss the mining issue.
On the other hand, NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa reiterated that the students’ body is opposed to uranium mining and drilling and “we are not even speaking about commercial mining”.
“We will not allow be it AMD or DAT to mine here,” he said, adding that the NESO  has from time to time petitioned the Central Government expressing its stiff opposition to any move for mining in Meghalaya.
Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, which looks after the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha said DAE has already planned to develop the mineral resources at Domiasiat under the name of ‘Kylleng-Pdengsohiong-Mawthabah Uranium Mining Project’. His statement has added fuel to the already burning issue of uranium mining in the State.
He also said that the 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 besides approval to execute land lease with land owners, grant of mining lease and consent for establishment has been taken up with the Meghalaya government.