Shillong, July 7: The controversial uranium mining issue in Meghalaya has again cropped up after the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (Ucil) floated a tender where it unequivocally stated that the corporation was planning to set up "open-pit mine" and "processing plant" of uranium ore in Meghalaya's South West Khasi Hills.
The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) has already questioned Ucil on the tender, which was published in a section of local newspapers a few days ago.
Chief minister Mukul Sangma, on the other hand, said as of now there was "no engagement" between the state government and the Centre on the uranium mining issue.
According to the tender inviting "expression of interest" from competent Indian companies/joint ventures/consortium, it was stated that Ucil is planning to set up open-pit mine and processing plant of uranium ore in South West Khasi Hills district.
"The project is in the process of approval by the competent authority," the tender further noted.
Ucil wanted those competent companies/joint ventures/consortium to undertake activities like providing consultancy services for obtaining the remaining statutory clearances and pending activities such as consent for establishment, permission for construction-water storage withdrawal and use, sanction for power supply, land acquisition, mining lease, forest land diversion, public consultation and others leading to "successful opening of the project and its subsequent uninterrupted operation".
The project, popularly known as the Kylleng Pyndensohiong Mawthabah (KPM) project, has been a subject of contentious debate in the state wherein several social organisations and pressure groups have voiced their opinions against the idea of allowing Ucil to undertake it.
Another activity, which has been noted in the tender is the "overburden removal" (2.6 million tonnes per annum), excavation in ore body (3,75,000 tonnes uranium ore annually) and supply to processing plant.
According to the tender, the period of contract is likely to be eight years and extendable by two years for mining activities.
Besides, the Ucil tender also mentioned about construction of infrastructure, which includes approach road, bridges and culverts.
The KSU, which has been in the forefront to oppose uranium mining, today reiterated its stand against Ucil's alleged plan to start the project.
KSU president Daniel Khyriem, while speaking to reporters, said the union was against uranium mining, fearing health hazards.
"The idea behind bringing in infrastructure development was only to facilitate uranium mining. But we are strongly against uranium mining as it would create health hazards not only in the mining belt, but elsewhere in the state too," Khyriem said.
Sangma, while commenting on Ucil tender, said, "If they are doing it like that, they are doing at their own risk. Any sensitive issue, which has a fallout, has to be discussed with the state."
Moreover, the KSU alleged that the proposed upgrade of the existing Nongstoin-Pambriew-Wahkaji-Mawthabah road to a double lane was only to facilitate uranium mining.
According to 2010 documents, the union alleged that at least four road projects in the West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills region were meant to facilitate uranium mining.
The road projects were approved under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE).
These projects were also transferred from Phase-B to Phase-A of SARDP-NE and approved by the cabinet committee on infrastructure on April 8, 2010, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power.
The projects for the state under Phase-A of SARDP-NE and which had spelled out clearly that the roads would facilitate uranium mining include upgrade of Nongstoin-Pambriew-Wahkaji-Mawthabah road to two lane (68km), upgrade of Nongstoin-Rambrai-Kyrshai-Chaigaon (71km), upgrade of Mawthabah-Wahkaji-Phlangdiloin-Ranikor road to two lane (47km), upgrade of Ranikor-Nonghyllam-Maheshkhola-Baghmara road to double lane (139km).
Recently, various groups have opposed the construction of these roads, especially Nongstoin-Pambriew-Wahkaji-Mawthabah road on the ground that the intention to construct this road was to execute the pending plan to mine uranium from Kylleng Pyndensohiong Mawthabah (KPM) belt.
While the anti-uranium groups asked the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) not to issue an NOC for the project, some groups supported the road project. The KSU also asked the KHADC not to provide the NOC to the construction company for upgrading the Nongstoin-Pambriew-Wahkaji-Mawthabah road into a double lane.
"Hardly five vehicles travel on the road on a daily basis. We are not against development projects, but we wonder what is the need for upgrading it into a double lane. Let the government only improve the condition of the existing single-lane road," Khyriem said.
KSU general secretary Auguster Jyrwa appealed to those groups that have been supporting the road project to alter their stand as the project was allegedly not at all for the interest of the people but to facilitate uranium mining.
