FROM A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG, August 1: The Meghalaya Cabinet on Monday revoked the August 24, 2009 decision of the erstwhile government to accord permission to Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) for pre mining activities in Mawthabah area in South West Khasi Hills.
The then cabinet decision had agreed to lease a land measuring 422 hectares in South West Khasi Hills to the UCIL for pre-mining activities.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma termed the Cabinet’s decision to revoke the earlier decision as “historic”.
“All the departments have been directed to inform all concerned including the UCIL of this decision and to take people on board before starting with the pre-mining activities,” Dr Sangma said.
According to the Chief Minister the stand of the state government has been consistent in its approach to uranium mining and activities thereto.
“Mining can only take place after taking the people into confidence,” the Chief Minister said.
He also alleged that the UCIL floated the Expression of Interest (EOI) without the consent of the Meghalaya government which had its own “ramifications”.
“The Expression of Interest does not confine to pre-mining activities it goes beyond that,” Dr Sangma said.
Moreover, the Chief Minister also said following the 2009 cabinet decision, there was a joint committee constituted by the Government to engage with all concern but unfortutely the whole exercise did not yield any outcome.