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Uranium ghost returns to haunt Meghalaya in 2009

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PTI


Shillong, December 21 (PTI): Hopes were rekindled in mid 2009 that the proposed uranium mining project in Meghalaya will finally see the light of the day but these were dashed towards the end of the year by renewed protests prompting the government to put it in on the back burner.
Within three months of clinching power after the collapse of the NCP-led coalition of regional parties, the Congress-led government headed by Chief Minister D D Lapang sought to break the deadlock over the uranium mining project that has been hanging fire over two decades now. The Lapang cabinet on August 24 decided to lease 422 hectares of land to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for 30 years in the uranium-rich West Khasi Hills district for "pre-project" developmental works. The UCIL agreed to earmark Rs 209 crore to carry out pre-project development programmes, including healthcare facilities, power, drinking water, educational institutions and roads.
No sooner did the government took that decision that anti-mining groups led by the influential Khasi Students Union (KSU), vented their protests citing 'environmental and health hazards' arising out of the mining project. The anti-mining groups demanded repeal of the cabinet decision, but Lapang was adamant and on a number of occasions indicated that there was pressure from New Delhi which wanted to see that the project began at the earliest.

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