CSWO opposes uranium mining project

FROM OUR CORRSPONDENT

Shillong, Sept 20: The Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) has vehemently  opposed the move of the UCIL (uranium Corporation of India Ltd) to open up new deposits in Kylleng -Pyndengsohiong -Mawthabah (KPM) project in West Khasi Hill.

“This will destroy the lives of the people of our state and we will not allow this destruction. We will  oppose every move of uranium mining in the state,” CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said in a statement here today.

The CSWO also urged the traditiol institutions to not allow “such destruction for greed”.

According to Kharshiing, the traditiol institutions should gather the village people to create awareness on the dangers of uranium mining.

“The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council should not allow the exploration as this mining of Uranium is not at all possible. This is a concern for the future generations as we do not want them to go extinct,” the CSWO said.

The CSWO also expressed surprise over the UCIL move of providing road, health care and schools in these areas.

“Why is it that the Government cannot make roads, cannot provide health care facilities and schools in these areas.  And the Government intentiolly leaves the rural areas under developed so that companies can come to exploit the tribal people by providing the assistance?” Kharshiing asked. The CSWO also said that representatives and the government should be accountable for the backwardness in these regions and take it upon itself the burden to develop these areas, but not by bargaining to be able to mine this hazardous component, uranium.