MAWKYRWAT: The Khasi Student’s Union (KSU), South West Khasi Hills District, on Monday, slammed the Centre, alleging that it values the people of the South West Khasi Hills below the wild animals at the Balpakram National Park — an analogy it used to describe that the uranium issue could affect the people.
Speaking at the meeting in Pynden Sakwang village after administering the oath to the newly elected leaders of the KSU Pynden Sakwang Unit, president of KSU SWKHD, Forwardman Nongrem, criticised both the state and central governments on the reported leakage and blast at a uranium tank at Nongbah Jynrin in South West Khasi Hills.
Nongrem reminded that during the Public Hearing on Uranium Mining at Nongbah Jynrin in 2006, majority of the people opposed the proposed uranium mining, but the government overruled the people’s voices and the Centre gave clearance for uranium mining in Mawthabah area.
Meanwhile, in May, 2010, the Standing Committee of the National Board on Wildlife, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, turn down the proposal for exploration drilling of uranium at Balphakram National Park, South Garo Hills, for it being home to rare and endangered species, the KSU leader said.
“As a union, we support the decision of the Standing Committee not to give environmental clearance for exploration drilling of uranium in Balphakram National Park. But the questions is if the government valued animals at Balphakram National Park more than the people of South West Khasi Hills as till date the Centre has not withdrawn the Environmental Clearance for mining of uranium in the district,” the Union president said.