Shillong, Sep 28 — Favouring early mining of uranium in Meghalaya, state Governor R.S. Mooshahary Thursday said mining of the radioactive mineral would benefit state's power requirement.
"The state will stand to benefit if there is uranium mining as Meghalaya will be getting subsidies on the power generated through uranium," Mooshahary said.
"Uranium is essential for electricity and this mineral will help to produce perennial electricity and it can perpetually create power," he said, addressing a national seminar on "Mining: Impact Assessment on the Economy, Ecology, Technology, Polity and Society".
In fact, the proposed open-cast uranium mining in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district has been hanging since 1992 after several groups cited radiation effect on human health and environmental degradation.
"We cannot compare mining of uranium with any other forms of mining since modern technology will be used by adhering to safety norms," Mooshahary said.
The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had pegged Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah project in Meghalaya for Rs.1,100 crore (about $240 million).
The ores are spread over a mountainous terrain in deposits varying from eight to 47 metres from the surface in and around Domiasiat, 135 km west from here.
The UCIL plans to produce 375,000 tonnes of uranium ore a year and process 1,500 tonnes of the mineral a day.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said his government would not bulldoze the uranium mining project in the state.
The union ministry of environment and forests has given clearance to the UCIL to start mining in the state.
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