SHILLONG, Nov 10 � Energy-starved India is desperately looking for Uranium discovered in Meghalaya and wants to mine it despite protests.
The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), the public sector company which wants to mine the ore, said that there is no plan to abandon the Rs 1,100 crore uranium mining project in Meghalaya�s West Khasi Hills district.
�We are eager to start the Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah project in Meghalaya. There is no question of us giving up on the project and we will never give up this project,� SK Malhotra, Head of Public Awareness Division of the Department of Atomic Energy said.
The project is being opposed by NGOs citing health hazard, although the UCIL has assured that Uranium would be mined scientifically unlike the coal mining being done by the local population here.
�The project will be good for Meghalaya and there is no scientific reason to oppose uranium mining,� Malhotra, who was leading a team of officials of UCIL and Atomic Mineral Division said.
The team briefed Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and his Cabinet colleagues about the project. The team will also meet the anti-mining groups.
The UCIL proposed to set up an open-cast uranium mining and processing plant in the State. The State is estimated to have 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore deposits. It has also plans to produce 3,75,000 tonnes of uranium ore a year and process 1,500 tonnes a day.
