Meghalaya: The central government is still discussing on the proposed mining of uranium ore in Meghalaya. “There are some issues which are under discussions but we will try to move ahead in a best possible way. These things (proposed mining of uranium) have to be deliberated and discussed. We cannot make instant decision on this,” Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh.
The anti-uranium groups at present also opposed the government’s plan to build two-lane projects which will connect the uranium site. Meghalaya is the third uranium-rich state in the country after Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. In fact, the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya government had annulled the decision taken during the previous D.D. Lapang regime to leas 422 hectares of land to Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for pre-mining activities in South West Khasi Hill district.
The decision to annul the leasing of land to the UCIL was adopted after the government-owned mining company had recently floated the expression of interest (EOI) for a mine and processing plant of uranium ore in South West Khasi Hills without the consent of the state government.