Shillong, July 13: Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) calls for a final moratorium on Uranium Mining in Meghalaya and stands in solidarity with the anti-Uranium mining movement in the state and West Khasi Hills.
Just when the curse of coal and lime stone mining has been finally acknowledged, the prospect of life threatening Uranium mining confronts us. The associated environmental and health hazards from uranium mining and processing are too well documented to allow for any complacency on the part of citizens. UCIL’s plans to carry out open cast mining of Uranium in areas around Domiasiat and plans to set up a processing plant at Mawthbah has been opposed for long by people from the area.
This opposition was evident even in the flawed Public Hearing ten years ago on 12th July 2007 where person after person expressed their apprehensions and opposition to the project. Rather than listening to the voices of the people, UCIL and the Indian nuclear establishment have indulged in developmental blackmail by buying people’s support through financial inducements like contract and bribes and corrupting the democratic processes in the area and state.
TUR opposes the unnecessary two lane road project connecting Nongstoin and Wahkaji, which by the govt’s own documents state that it is to facilitate Uranium mining. People’s development in the areas cannot be linked to Uranium mining but has to be seen as their right. The Govt. Which is proactive in splitting and blackmailing the people in order to mine Uranium should invest the same energy and money in environmentally friendly technology like solar and wind power.
TUR condemns the callous silence of most of the political class about uranium mining and condemns the ill informed and vacuous statement of the chief minister of the state who views uranium mining as just a potential law and order problem. If the ruling dispensation is callous so are many in the opposition like the UDP and NPP. Calls for White Paper or taking people into confidence cannot whitewash the dangers of Uranium Mining. The time has come to clearly voice ones opinion and take a stand against Uranium mining rather than do a wait and watch gambling game to further ones own interest, alleged TUR.
