Shillong, August 01: The Cabinet today has revoked the earlier cabinet decision which allowed Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) to start pre-mining activities at Domiasiat in South West Khasi Hills District in the land that was leased about 422 hectare of land to the corporation, this wad inform by the Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma after the cabinet meeting today.
Speaking to media person the Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma said that cabinet decision that was taken in 24 August, 2009 stands revoked relating to the lease of land and permission allowing the UCIL for undertaking pre-mining activities on the land that was leased out to the UCIL in West Khasi Hills District but now falls under South West Khasi HillsDistrict.
In 2009 the government has leased the land of 422 hectare by the land owners in Nongbah Jynrin to UCIL for 30 years, and now the UCIL has to return the land and the process to hand over the land will take place soon.
The UCIL has undertake many exercise to educate the people from the fears about the health hazards from Uranium mining, but fail to convince said Dr Mukul while announcing the decision of the cabinet today.
The Chief Minister make it clear that no Uranium mining activities can be undertaken in the State, without taking confidence of the people of the state, the Civil Society and the NGOs, on the Expression of Interest (EOI) flooted by the UCIL he Chief minister said that the UCIL has moved beyond pre-mining activities.
The Chief Minister said that looking from the EOI it dose not confine only to pre-mining activities but it has move beyond, therefore the cabinet today revoked the earlier cabinet decision so with this all Uranium mining activities in the state should be stopped, said Dr Mukul. And this decision will make known to the UCIL. The decision have been taken by the cabinet after a group of NGOs spearheaded by the KSU and many more.
