Shillong, June 13: A majority of those who attended the “public hearing” on uranium mining at Nongbah Jynrin in Mawthabah yesterday were opposed to the idea, but the outcome may finally depend on the views expressed by residents of villages which fall within 3 km of the mining area.

Most of the mining areas of the proposed Kylleng Sohiong uranium project are in and around Phod Kylleng Pyndensohiong in West Khasi Hills district. Six villages — Nongbah Jynrin, Mawthabah, Nongtnger, New Nongtnger, Nongmalang and Nongmyndia — which fall within the specified 3 km radius, will play a major role in deciding the outcome of the public hearing.

Last Tuesday, a public hearing was arranged by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board at the behest of the Centre at Nongbah Jynrin.

According to the PCB officials, the report of the public hearing will be sent to the Union ministry of forest and environment which will decide “whether the views expressed by the gathering favour the proposed uranium mining or not.” However, sources told The Telegraph that the Union ministry of forest and environment and central departments may consider “only views of people who represent the six villages.”

Incidentally, a notification of the PCB, issued before the public hearing, had hinted that only views of people living within the mining area would be taken into cognisance. The Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council had challenged the notification of the board and had even moved court.

The board had said in its notification that those staying outside the 10-km radius of the mining area would need to take prior permission from the local headman of Nongbah Jynrin in order to participate in the public hearing.

A number of people living within the vicinity of the mining area, at least residents of Nongbah Jynrin and Mawthabah, have extended support to the proposed uranium mining project.

Most of the households of Nongbah Jynrin said they “welcomed the uranium project.” Chairman of Synjuk Hynriew Shnong (the six villages) H. Dienglan, too, said that he saw nothing wrong with the uranium mining project. Secretary of Nongbah Jynrin N.B. Lyngdoh was of the same opinion.