Threat of criminal case against UCIL

SHILLONG, SEPT 20: Civil Society Women Organisation (CSWO) has threatened to file a criminal case against the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) if it insisted on mining uranium and opening up new deposits in in Kylleng -Pyndengsohiong -Mawthabah (KPM) project in Meghalaya.

CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said that the organization oppose the UCIL move to explore uranium in new deposits in Kylleng -Pyndengsohiong -Mawthabah (KPM) as it will threatened people’s lives and might affect generations to come through radiation that will cause cancer.

Kharshiing said the organization opposes any mining of uranium in the State and tribal areas in any parts of the country.  She said uranium mining is the most hazardous form of extractive activity which the organization vehemently opposes.

Kharshiing felt the traditional Institutions should not allow such destructive mining activity and they should create awareness among the villagers on the dangers of uranium mining. She felt the KHADC must also now allow this mining as it will endanger future generations.

Quoting Jovana J.Brown, PhD and Lori Lambert, PhD, DS, RN[1]  Kharshiing said, “The Navajo Nation was the site of extensive uranium mining and milling in the 1950’s through the 1980’s.  This mining and milling has left a terrible legacy for the people and the land. Mine and mill workers were left with illness caused by radiation exposure.  Many of these workers have since died.’

Kharshiing said abandoned mine and mill sites on the Navajo Nation continue to expose residents to harmful radiation and water supplies have been contaminated.  She informed, “The Navajo Nation banned uranium mining in 2005.  Yet the menace of new uranium mines in adjacent to Navajo communities continues to threaten the Navajos”.

Stating that a report on Domiasiat by certain experts from NEHU, states that since the uranium ore is low grade, there is low radiation but pointed out the Indian Express news report of May 2008 which says ‘The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has estimated that it can extract about 3,75,000 tons of high grade uranium ore from Domasiat in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.’

Kharshiing said so if the uranium ore is of high grade then radiation is high which will put people’s health in danger. – By Our Reporter