Road construction to facilitate uranium mining: KSU

A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Aug 5: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) today reiterated its stand that it will not allow the government to mine uranium from South West Khasi Hills district and West Khasi Hills district or in any parts of Khasi-Jaiñtia Hills district. In a letter submitted to Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Chief Executive Member (CEM), Pynshngaiñlang N Syiem, the KSU said that though it was no against development but it was against enticing the people through promises of development. “The construction of the two lane road from Nongstoin to Mawthabah clearly shows that it is with an intention to mine uranium,” KSU president Daniel Khyriem said in the letter to the CEM. Khyriem said that the KSU opposes if the district council allows the state government to construct this road especially from Wahkaji to Mawthabah. This road belongs to the KHADC. The issue of uranium mining in Meghalaya has been hanging fire over two decades now with several organizations vehemently opposed to the proposal on the ground that it would degrade the environment, cause health hazards besides open up flood gates for influx of outsiders into the predomintly tribal state.