SHILLONG, June 6 ? ?We want to start the project for mining uranium in Domiasiat, West Khasi Hills district only with people?s cooperation,? Chairman, Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL), Dr R Gupta declared on Thursday. ?Although the exploration for uranium deposits in Domiasiat was completed in 1992, mining has not been taken up till date due to the apprehensions in the minds of the people of the area and in the State of Meghalaya 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? organized by the North-east India Council for Social Science Research at the Raitong Building in Shillong on Thursday.
Admitting that there has been a ?communication gap? between the authorities concerned and the general people regarding uranium mining, 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.?
Stating that the uranium deposits in and around Domiasiat is the ?best in India as of today,? Gupta informed that the UCIL has applied for a mining lease in the area and the same is pending before the State Government. The Domiasiat area has 0.1 per cent uranium deposit, meaning 1 kg uranium per metric tonne of rocks, Gupta informed, adding, if and when the project is implemented, the Corporation would opt for the safe open-cast mining process and set up a plant at an initial estimated cost of Rs 450 crore.
Allaying fears of radiation, Gupta said scientific mining of uranium would ensure total safety to human life and the environment. Citing the example of Jaduguda Uranium Mining Plant in Jharkhand, he informed that there has been no adverse effect of mining either on the people of the area or on the environment. ?In fact, the tribal population in the vicinity of the mine have greatly benefited from the project when has brought about immense development in the area,? he claimed.
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 would create model mining practices, establish good hospitals, good schools in the area, he added. It would also bring along good roads, banking facilities, telecom service, postal service, etc. The project would also generate employment opportunities for local people not only in the UCIL but also in auxiliary and ancillary services as well as self-employment in trade, transport and other services, Gupta said.
The UCIL would be utilising the State roadways from Domiasiat to Nongstoin-Riangdo-Boko-Guwahati and the benefits of the Domiasiat project would naturally extend along the way, he said. Answering to specific queries, the chairman said uranium extracts would be moulded into yellow cakes at the proposed Domiasiat Plant and would be used for generating power and not for nuclear weapons. He further informed that exploration for uranium is under way at parts of the Garo Hills and the East Khasi Hills besides Mawsynram in West Khasi Hills, Karbi Anglong in Assam and Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh.
It may be mentioned here that West Khasi Hills is the largest district of Meghalaya and is very rich in natural resources. It has large reserves of coal, limestone, uranium and granite. However, inspite of such abundant resources, the district is not as developed as would be expected. The UCIL chairman, therefore, underscored that the West Khasi Hills would see an economic boom, development of human resources, higher standard of living, greater awareness of environment protection and practical understanding of sustained development if the project for mining uranium is allowed to be implemented. ?We shall begin mining only if the Central and State governments and the people themselves clear the project,? Gupta reiterated. Several scientists, scholars, besides NGOs and government officials are taking part in the two-day seminar which was inaugurated by Meghalaya Governor MM Jacob Thursday.