India Abroad
Sept 6
Author: Subit Bhamik
The Atomic Energy Commission (of India) has discovered a huge Uranium
Deposit in the northeastern State of Meghalaya, calling it the "largest and
richest deposit of near-surface uranium ever struck in the country.
But the department may not be able to mine or exploit it fully if the tribal
people of the area succeed in their campaign to resist further mining.
India is short of Uranium and the shortage is considered an impediment to
the country's nuclear program. But with the discovery at Domiosiat (140 kms
from Shillong in the West Khasi Hills), the department believes the
shortfall can be more than made up.
"We made a mistake by allowing land acquisition by the Commission, and now
they want more and more land for prospecting and mining, and hundreds of
Tribal families are endangered because they may be pushed out of their
ancestral lands", said Robert Kharrangi, President of the Rilum Younth
Front, a militant tribal outfit opposed to further expansion of Uranium
mining in Meghalaya.
Land in Meghalaya is owned by Village Councils - the concept of private or
state ownership is traditionally non-existent. The councils operate under
the administrative umbrella of the autonomous tribal district councils,
which are extremely conscious of tribal rights and autonomy vested under the
sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution.
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|Vasudev Murthy | Any opinions expressed are strictly |
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