SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment has recommended the state government to engage an independent agency to conduct a study on the radiation level and uranium content in all water bodies in South West Khasi Hills.
The Chairman of the Committee, SK Sunn, placed a report of study tour before the House on Monday during the Autumn Session of the Assembly.
The study tour was conducted by the Committee at Domiasiat, Nongbah Jynrin and Wahkaji area earlier this month.
The report suggested the government to form an independent agency or organisation with expertise at its disposal to conduct a study on the radiation levels in the villages surrounding Domiasiat including uranium content in surface water of all water bodies flowing in and around the area.
On the other hand, exhorting the government to take locals of the area into confidence while carrying out this exercise, the Committee stated that it is imperative on the part of the government to continue monitoring the radiation level in the villages adjoining to Domiasiat.
The Committee, in its recommendations, also stated that the comparatively higher reading of radiation levels at the location near the Jimiri River is a cause of concern as the river’s surface water is the prime source of drinking water for the villagers. “The uranium content in water bodies have to be monitored on a regular basis,” the report suggested.
Taking into account the varying radiation level in and around the area, the Committee has also recommended that health surveys may need to be conducted to ascertain the health conditions of people residing in the area and the report may also be submitted to the Assembly by Health department.
The Committee has also pressed the government to declare the location of the three abandoned uranium test mine pits and two repository tanks as restricted areas.
Suggesting that only authorised personnel may be allowed access into the area, the Committee has also called for a police outpost at Wahkaji to man the location.
During the interaction sessions at Wahkaji, the issue of health hazards arising out of the uranium radiation in the area was expressed by some representatives of concerned villages and by representatives of the NGOs.
They said that most of them were apprised of a high level of uranium radiation due to crack which developed in the repository tanks, by an environmental activist, who had visited the site recently.