Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC) and the Hill State Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSPDP) have strongly opposed uranium mining at Domiasiat in the West Khasi Hills district. Reason: health hazards due to radiation. Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL) plans to take up the mining.  HSPDP president H.S.Lyngdoh and MPHRC secretary general DDG Dympep believe that people living in the uranium mine vicinity are already exposed to radiation. The problem will get aggravated as they shown symptoms of several acute diseases.

UCIL chairman R. Gupta doesn’t share their pessimism. He has allayed fears of any health or environmental hazards from uranium mining. Dr. Gupta had expressed optimism that  it would be possible to remove misgivings with proper ‘education’ and UCIL would be able to go ahead with the project which  has been pending for over a decade.

Uranium mining would provide benefits to the people of the West Khasi Hills in particular and the State as a whole, he believes. He cites the example of Jaduguda in Jharkhand where uranium mining has brought dividends to the local tribals in terms of economic growth and enhancement of education and health care facilities.

UCIL to seek people’s cooperation mining uranium

“We want to start the project for mining uranium in Domiasiat, West Khasi Hills district only with people’s cooperation,” R Gupta, Chairman, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL), said.

“Exploration for uranium deposits in Domiasiat was completed in 1992 but mining has not been taken up till date due to the apprehensions in the area and in the State as a whole,” Gupta told reporters on the sidelines of a national seminar on ‘Environmental and Sociological Implications of Mining of Minerals and Oil Exploration in North-east India’  in Shillong. The conference was organized by the North-East India Council for Social Science Research at the Raitong Building.

Admitting that there has been a ‘communication gap’, Gupta said it would be the endeavour of UCIL to try and remove the misgivings in the minds of the people and “educate them on the benefits of mining for the overall development of the State.”

Uranium deposits in and around Domiasiat are the ‘best in India as of today. It yields one kilo uranium per tonne of rock. UCIL has applied for a mining lease but the Meghalaya government is yet to agree.Once the lease is in place, the UCIL will go for open-cast mining and it is safe, according to Gupta. Total project cost: Rs 450 crore.

Allaying fears of radiation, Gupta said scientific mining of uranium would ensure total safety to life and the environment. Citing the example of Jaduguda Uranium Mining Plant in Jharkhand, he said that there has been no adverse effect of mining either on the people of the area or on the environment. “In fact, the people in the vicinity of the mine have greatly benefited as the project had brought immense development in the area,’ he argued.

Reiterating that the Domiasiat project if implemented is bound to bring about a positive development in the socio-economic situation in the West Khasi Hills in general and Domiasiat in particular, Gupta said the UCIL would invest a vast amount for the purpose. With an excellent track record in the field of employment, health care, education, environment protection and upgradation over a period of 36 years, UCIL undertook the project.

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