Centre puts uranium ball in state’s court

SHILLONG: Union Minister Harsh Vardhan has put the uranium mining ball in the state’s court saying it was up to the Meghalaya government to decide on the Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah uranium mining in South West Khasi Hills district.
“The state should examine the matter (uranium mining) and then send the recommendations to the Centre,” he told reporters on Saturday.
Responding to a query, the environment minister said there are laws for environment protection and the Centre has also formulated waste management rules.
“There are defined committees of experts which deal with the subject,” he said.
He added that any project is first examined by the state and the matter is sent to the regional authority and the Centre, which has a well-defined monitoring mechanism.
“Every project is assessed on its merits,” he said.
Earlier this week, unidentified goons had attacked the office of the Atomic Mineral Division for Exploration and Research at Wahkaji in South West Khasi Hills and assaulted two officials and an assistant besides torching vehicles of the division.
Different NGOs and residents in the state have expressed their opposition to the plans of the central government to mine uranium in the state.
(With inputs from agencies)