MAWKYRWAT: C&RD Minister Hamletson Dohling has asserted that there were cracks as well as leakages in the uranium tanks at Nongbah Jynrin in South West Khasi Hills, while also raising alarm that the situation is “dangerous”.
Dohling, after an inspection of four uranium tanks on Tuesday, said that the repair works on the tanks clearly show that there were cracks and leakages.
The North-East Student Organisations (NESO) Chairman, Samuel B Jyrwa, leaders of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) South West Khasi Hills District and Langrin Youth Welfare Association (LYWA) accompanied the minister during the visit to four uranium tanks in Nongbah Jynrin, where there have been claims of an explosion.
Speaking to media persons, Dohling said that he decided to visit the site after learning about reported explosion in uranium tanks at Nongbah Jynrin and to get a firsthand notion of the matter.
The minister expressed surprise over the repair works of which he had no idea as to who gave the order for taking it up.
“I have seen that there were cracks in the tanks, but it is very surprising that there were signs of repairing, and I don’t have knowledge about who gave the order to repair. The marks of recent repairing and sealing of cracks and holes in the uranium tanks is quite visible….cracks and leakages have been repaired and holes sealed. If there was nothing, why should it be repaired in the first place? What I saw today is very dangerous,” Dohling said, while adding that there was truth in what was being reported by the youths in recent weeks.
On the other hand, the minister also said informed that the state government has taken the matter seriously and also decided to form an expert panel to investigate and unearth the truth. “The Expert Committee will find out whether the radiation level is low, medium or high, because right now the situation in Nongbah Jynrin does not seem that safe. Therefore, to safeguard public’s health, we need to speed up the matter,” he said.
Later, Dohling and various organisation leaders visited Spearlity Lyngdoh Langrin, an elderly lady from Domiasiat village, who stood up against the uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) by refusing to sell her land for the purpose of uranium mining. The tanks were, however, set up in the ’90s. With regard to the power supply situation in Domiasiat village, which is still without electricity, Dohling said that he will write to the CMD of the MePDCL to ensure connection to the village.
