KSU opposes proposed study into leakage from a concrete tank by NEHU, IIT-G
Radioactive uranium WASTE in leakage from concrete tank?
A Reporter
SHILLONG: The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) has opposed the proposal of the State government to assign the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) to carry out an in-depth study into the reports of leakages from the concrete tanks at Nongbah Jynrin in South West Khasi Hills.
It may be mentioned that recently, the government constituted an expert agency to study the leakage from a concrete tank allegedly containing radioactive uranium waste.
President of the South West Khasi Hills unit of the KSU, Forwardman Nongrem said that both the educational institutions (IIT-Guwahati and NEHU) are centrally-funded universities, and thus appear as "dependent agencies" and not "independent agencies".
"How can we expect an independent investigation from government-aided universities and so, this decision is unwise and unacceptable to the union," Nongrem said.
The KSU also said that it was sticking to the principle for the need of an independent agency to carry out an in-depth study on the leakages of concrete tanks at Nongbah Jynrin even as Nongrem added that the proposal to let these varsities to carry out with their studies are "pre-planned, manipulative in nature and we don't expect a fair report from their investigations."
The KSU also said that since 2002 the related departments of NEHU, Shillong has been receiving funds from the Department of Atomic Energy, Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences, Mumbai and Babha Atomic Research Centre for researches which are manipulative in nature and done with a view to favour the government in its efforts of mining uranium there at Mawthabah and Domiasiat areas.
The KSU while reiterating for the need of a fair and independent agency not a bias and Dependent agency to carry out an in-depth study stated that the union was sure that leakages are there and the level of radiation emission is also very high as confirmed during the joint inspection to the site on October 9 along with Dr. Bremley Wanbantei Lyngdoh.
Nongrem also reminded that NEHU had conducted and submitted its manipulative research from 2002-2006 and the research was funded by the Department of Science and Technology and BRNS, Department of Atomic Energy.
"It was learned that the main purpose of that research is to mine uranium at Domiasiat and Mawthabah areas," Nongrem alleged.