MAWKYRWAT: The deputy commissioner of South West Khasi Hills has sought an explanation from Atomic Mineral Division (AMD) on the nature of activities in Mawthabah-Wahkaji area days after its officials were assaulted and property damaged.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo said in view of the prevailing law and order in the district after the incident at Wahkaji and Mawthabah, she had spoken to the regional director of AMD Shillong to inquire the activities of in the area.
“The regional director had stated that survey of minerals was taking place at Wahkaji-Mawthabah and permission has been taken from the land-owners. However, no mining has taken place,” Laloo said, adding that the director also informed that all the activities have been suspended after the incident.
According to an FIR, the drilling machine that was burnt at Mawthabah on July 25 belonged to local private contractors who were engaged in drilling of boulders for soil testing for coal and other minerals, which was as per the agreement with the Lyngdoh Sangriang clan and cooperation of AMD, Laloo said.
Asked whether AMD has got permission to carry out the drilling exploration of uranium, Laloo said, “They did not seek permission of any kind. As stated by them, exploration can be done in any part of the country with the consent of land owners.”
The DC on Friday had written to the regional director in which she had asked to immediately clarify on three points — first, the “exact nature of activities in Mawthabah-Wahkaji area; second, how long the activities of the AMD have been undertaken in the area, especially in recent weeks; and third, whether the government’s approval or intimation to any authority in Meghalaya has been made on its activities.
Laloo also instructed AMD that prior information must mandatorily be given to the district administration before going ahead with any kind of activities.
“It is highly advised that owing to the sensitive nature of the uranium mining issue in the state as you are well aware and the difficulties in communication in the area, any activity to be undertaken by the AMD in the District in future should be duly intimated to the district administration,” Laloo said in the letter.
“You are requested to submit your explanation and clarification on the noted points by today, the 27th July, 2018. This is in the interest of security of all concerned and maintenance of public order in the district,” she further wrote.
However, AMD has not replied to the letter of the deputy commissioner. “Officially they have not responded. I am still waiting for the explanation and clarification on the three noted points,” Laloo said.
