Shillong, March 31 : Taking advantage of President’s rule in Meghalaya, the pro-uranium lobby has decided to move Governor R.S. Mooshahary to start the multicrore-rupee uranium mining project at Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district.
Addressing a news conference here today, Wonder V. Myrthong, the president of the Langrin Warsan Lyngdoh Socio-Economic and Development Organisation that has been campaigning for uranium mining, said despite several reminders, the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government did not take any step to start mining.
“We had submitted several memoranda but to no avail,” Myrthong said.
The members of the NGO also criticised the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM), its political wing, for protesting moves to carry out uranium mining.
The NGO members alleged that KHNAM legislator Paul Lyngdoh, who was against uranium mining, was busy fighting for his chair and did not even care for the development of the people of the state.
The NGO said the students’ union had also sided with Lyngdoh by remaining silent on uranium mining and even opposing the project which was good for the people of the state.
The fear of influx of outsiders once uranium mining started was baseless, Myrthong said.
“The Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) will be asked to provide quarters for the workers who will come from outside.”
The NGO sent an 11-member delegation to the uranium mining sites in Jaduguda last Wednesday and ruled out health hazards.
“We will not listen to the anti-uranium mining group’s contention that there will be health hazards. We are committed to pursue the uranium mining project,” a member of the NGO said.