Shylla asks Centre to ‘revoke’ uranium mining decision

SHILLONG: Former KHADC CEM and Nongkrem MDC HS Shylla has shot an open letter to Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North East Region (DONER) Jitendra Singh asking him to immediately revoke any decision related to uranium mining in Meghalaya.
Shylla, also an ex-MLA, in the open letter to the Union Minister said that his recent statement in Parliament that the government was now ready to start mining and processing of uranium “has come like a thunder and contradicted earlier statements made by the government be it at the Centre or the State”.
Stating that youths  are determined not to allow uranium mining related activity in the State, Shylla said any development in this regard may lead to an imbroglio rising from the failure of the Centre and the mining agency to give meaningful assurance to the people on various critical problems related to the entire process.
“Further, there might be a stiff resistance from the public against the mining of uranium unless the concerns of the people are properly addressed,” he said.
Shylla further urged the BJP leadership at the Centre, to revoke any decision related to the proposed uranium mining to avoid taking blame for any fiasco that might result from the possible move.
It may be mentioned that various pressure groups and rights activists in the State have been opposing the proposed move to mine uranium in Meghalaya.
The KHADC has also made it clear that it would not issue NOC for uranium mining related projects.