Shillong, Oct. 27: The Union ministry of environment and forests will seek the views of the department of atomic energy in relation to a proposed hydroelectric power project in Meghalaya.

The construction of the Kynshi Stage-II Hydro Power Project of around 450MW on the Kynshi river in Nongpyrda village in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district has been hanging for quite a few years.

It was given scoping clearance with terms of reference (ToR) in October 2011. However, the project proponent had informed that during a discussion, Meghalaya government officials desired to shift the dam location due to the presence of uranium ore near the proposed project.

The new location of the dam is about 4km downstream of the confluence of Kynshi and Wahblei rivers.

The Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union ministry of environment and forests, during its 56th meeting held in 2012, felt that since the uranium deposits are just in the vicinity and above the submergence area of the project, the project could hamper the extraction of the uranium ore if, in future, it was decided to undertake uranium mining.

As of date, uranium is not being extracted from these deposits.

Further, crossing of submergence over the uranium deposits could be a health hazard also.

Subsequently, the project developers interacted with Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) through the Meghalaya government in relation to the uranium issue.

As suggested by UCIL, M/s J.P. Power, the private company which was chosen by the state government to develop the Kynshi Stage II project, agreed to shift the hydropower project further 3.4km away from the uranium deposit. The UCIL, in December 2014, had agreed to clear the proposal subject to the fulfilment of various conditions.

In the 87th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee for river valley and hydroelectric projects, held recently in New Delhi, it was decided that the decision on approval of terms of reference would be taken only after seeking the views of the department of atomic energy. The Union ministry of environment and forests has, therefore, been tasked with the responsibility to seek the necessary clarification. The terms of reference would be considered only after the receipt of the views of the department of atomic energy.