Shillong, Oct 22: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has raised suspicions that there may be some ulterior motive behind the geological investigation undertaken by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in areas surrounding Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills.
On Wednesday, the KSU’s district unit met with Deputy Commissioner Barnari Mawlong on the matter.
The pressure group said that there is a suspicion that this may be due to the Comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, which is a pre-mining activity to be formally conducted before starting mining just to comply with the national guidelines under the Environment (Protection) Act and the guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Nuclear Association before mining uranium.
The GSI has already conducted field surveys to explore for uranium in other states, such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh.
The KSU said that it has seen documents that the GSI plans to conduct geological mapping, sample collection and pitting and trenching, which includes drilling of 10 metres or more deep and this has caused serious doubts in the union on the motive of this investigation.
The GSI should provide more detailed information and explanations to the public about this matter and not proceed without consultation with the villages or the public, the KSU opined.
According to the union, the places involved in the survey are Mawkyrwat, Mawten, Mawlangwir, Nonglang, Wahsiej, Mawkyllung, Marshilong, Nongbah Marshilong, Mawtle, Sakwang, Pyndensakwang, Jakrem and Nongmawlein Pawphlang.
