Shillong, April 29: The Meghalaya government today decided to keep “in abeyance” the proposed exploratory drilling of uranium in Balpakram National Park in South Garo Hills district in view of stiff opposition from various quarters.

Sources said at a meeting with a Garo Students’ Union delegation here, chief minister Mukul Sangma said the state government would not go against the wishes of the people by allowing the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) carry out exploratory drilling in the park.

The state government would also discuss with the ministry of environment and forests about the proposed visit of a National Board for Wildlife team to Balpakram.

“The state government has upheld our appeal not to allow the DAE conduct exploratory drilling and hurt the sentiments of the people,” GSU general secretary Sanjeeb A. Sangma told reporters after meeting Sangma.

Yesterday in Tura, members of the GSU, Seniors Citizens’ Forum, Post-Graduate Garo Students’ Unions, Tura Government College Students’ Union, the Garo Graduates’ Union and others collectively decided to launch a movement under the banner of Balpakram Anti-Uranium Mining Forum to oppose the exploratory drilling.