Shillong, March 16: The Chairman and managing director of the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) Mr C K Asnani along with the officers from the UCIL and AMD, met the NGO’s of the state Meghalaya to have a free and frank discussion on the issue of Uranium in the state of Meghalaya.
The Genenral Secretary of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) Mr Robert K Jahrin told SP News Agency that from the organization has express their view that they are aginst uranium mining in the state of Meghalaya, since the corporation has not been able to assure 100% of safety measure to safe guard human lives from radiation.
Since the Mr Asnani has asked the NGO’s who have attended the meeting to have free and frank, in what they want to express on this issue of Uranium, from the HYC, they have express to the chairman and Managing Director of the UCIL that “Uranium is an evil messenger who held the key of Death”.
The fear of the people is that till date the company has not show what are the safety to protect human lives, Mr Robert said the he has express his view in the meeting that mining of uranium in the state will only be like a genocide.
When it comes to the issue of displacement of the villagers, it will be very difficult since the connection the death and the living are very closed in the khasi system, this relationship cannot be segregated. He told the CMD today that even when the uranium mining has not been started, social conflict has been erupted between thus people who are pro-uranium and thus who are against it.
From the HYC today they have clearly express their stand that they are not in favour of uranium mining in the state, it is time that for the time being the UCIL should bid “ Goodbye” on the uranium mining in Meghalaya.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Samuel Jyrwa Chairman NESO, said, “The CMD had tried his level best to convince us that UCIL will take all the safety measures as per the safety regulations and responsibility, however we still feel that there is no safety measures which will safeguard the health of the people and the environment once uranium is mined.”
He added, “We have suggested that UCIL should convey a message to the central government to erase the proposed plan to mine uranium in Meghalaya.” Expressing similar views, KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar informed that he has conveyed his views in the meeting that the Union will continue to oppose uranium mining in the state.
Others NGO’s who have attended this meeting call by the Chairman and Managing Director of the UCIL Mr C K Asnani at Pine Wood Hotel was also attended by C K Asnani Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), UCIL Jadududa including NGOs- Khasi Student Union (KSU), North East Student Organization (NESO), Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Joint Action Committee of Social Organization (JACSO), Langrin Youth Welfare Association (LYWA) and Meghalaya People Human Right Commission.
In the opening speech the CMD of the UCIL, said that he called this meeting to have a free and frank discussion on the issue of Uranium, he whish that the NGO’s who have attended the meeting that they should express what they have to say on the issue. In this meeting no decision has been taken but this type of consultation will also conducted in the near future said Mr CK Asnani CMD of the UCIL.
