Govt allays uranium tank leakage fears

SHILLONG, March 12: The Opposition Congress on Friday once again flagged the much-debated reports of leakage from uranium effluent tank at Nongbah Jynrin, South West Khasi Hills, which was denied by the state government, this time in the House.
Moving the short duration discussion, Congress MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh, enquired about the findings of the study done by the NEHU on the allegations of leakage. “What were the findings of the six-member team led by Prof B Marboh from the Department of Chemistry, NEHU? The public is getting bits and pieces of information through media. Is the radiation scare true?” he asked.
In his reply, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that most of the  reports of the study suggest that there is no leakage and the radiation level is well within safety level.
He recalled that the government had, immediately after taking cognizance of the alleged reports of explosion and leakage in the uranium tanks, sent a team of police and magistrates who, after inspection, informed that those reports were false.
The government had even sought the views from Atomic Mineral Directorate, North East Region, regarding the matter. The Directorate too, in its report, denied any such explosion or leakage, he informed.
The chief minister, however, informed the House that two small holes were found in one of the tanks during inspection, which seemed to be intentionally dug.
According to Conrad, during an inspection conducted by an expert team from NEHU, it was discerned that the radiation level at the source is well within the safety level.
However, it was found that radiation level at a nearby rivulet of Phud Syngkai stream was higher than the source and a separate study on rocks and sediments have been taken up by the government to probe the matter.
“A joint team of official’s geologist representative of NEHU visited the site and samples have been collected and chemical analysis is being undertaken by the Directorate of Mineral Resources, and the report will be submitted shortly,” he said.
The chief minister further said that police patrols are conducted regularly in the area while the State Pollution Board has taken up the matter with the Central Pollution Board.