SHILLONG, MAY 5: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Tuesday decided to close-down the ‘illegal’ uranium drilling operation by Maheswari Company Private Limited (MCPL) in South West Khasi hills after the company allegedly misled KHADC while submitting an application seeking renewal of a license 2013-2014.
“We will immediately close-down the uranium drilling/mining operation of the MCPL as it is illegal as it had misled the district council,” EM in-charge Trade Latiplang Kharkongor told newsmen Tuesday. He informed the company has sought renewal of its license while pointing the permission for drilling were in Wahkut and Porkut under Nongjri area and the land agreement with the Nongtynger clan besides an NOC from the Syiem of Nongstoin.
“However, on a recent inspection to the operation site by the enforcement wing of the district council, it was found that the drilling activities by the company was carried in an Weikut under Kulang area, about 9 kilometers away from Wahkut,” Kharkongor said.
Kharkongor informed that the company had also produced before the enforcement official a new land agreement it had made with the Nongbri clan. “This is highly illegal as the operation was conducted on an area in which the district council has never issued any permission or license,” Kharkongor informed saying it will close the drilling from tomorrow.
According to Kharkongor, the district council had issued the renewal license for 2013-2014 to MCPL following an order issued by the high court after the company filed a petition against the cancellation of its license in 2012.
On the reason behind the cancellation, Kharkongor said, “In 2011, the company was given 60 days time to produced its proper documents but because of failure to do so, closure notice was issued in 2012 and subsequently the license was also cancelled in the same year.”
Stating that MCPL had got the license for operation of civil, mining and drilling since 2009 during the EC led by Congress, the EM said, “Ironically, the license was issued in 2009 to the company without any documents.”
It was also alleged that the license which was issued without documents was during the tenure of Lambor Malniang as the EM in charge Trade. According to Kharkongor, the license issued in 2009 has also allowed the company to operate in areas under East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi District.
Subsequent to this, the company did approach the district council for renewal of license in 2010-2011, 2011-2012, Kharkongor said adding but in the midst of several complaints received from ngos, political parties, dorbar shnongs, the district council decided to ask the company to provide proper documents, which it failed.
However in 2013, the company was able to produce documents and license was issued, Kharkongor informed and added similar application for renewal was also submitted by the company for 2014-2015, which was rejected by ARPA Executive Committee led by Ardent M Basaiawmoit.- By Our Reporter
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