Meghalaya has 9500 tonnes of uranium reserve
Shillong: The Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) has found uranium oxide reserve, estimated to be about 9,500 tonnes in about 9.22 million tonnes of ore, in Meghalaya, the assembly was informed today.
This 'significant' reserve with an average grade of 0.104 per cent of uranium oxide (0308) was found over an area of two sq km as per the report furnished to the state government by the AMD, Mining and Geology Minister Prestone Tyngsong said, replying to a zero hour notice by P T Sawkmie of MDP.
The AMD, under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), was engaged in survey, exploraion and evaluation of atomic minerals including uranium in the state. ''It has located a significant uranium occurrence in Domiasiat area in West Khasi Hills district,'' Tyngsong said.
Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL), a public sector enterprise under the administrative control of the DAE, was established as an agency to mine and process uranium ore in the country. The UCIL had approached Meghalaya government about a decade ago and a series of "preliminary discussions" were held but "no decision was taken by the government till date".
He said the UCIL had submitted a formal application for uranium mining to the West Khasi Hills district deputy commissioner on October 15, 2001 - which was "still under scrutiny". The latter had asked the corporation to submit "consent of land owners and surveyed maps". But till date, UCIL was yet to reach the state government with the documents.
''After the application has been received (from UCIL), it will be then decided by the state government whether to allow or disallow uranium mining in the state after examining all pros and cons,'' Tyngsong said