Meghalaya minister bats for uranium mining

NEW DELHI: Making a strong case for uranium mining, Meghalaya minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said the country's nuclear fuel shortage will be catered to a great extent if mining operations begin in the northeastern state.

Sangma, also the president of the NCP's youth wing, said once uranium mining is allowed, the northeast will become the powerhouse of the country.

He hoped that the Meghalaya government gives it nod to mining in the state, which has about 18 per cent of uranium deposits.

Though the Union Environment and Forest Ministry had given its go ahead to UCIL for uranium mining in the state, there have been protests from locals, various organisations and political parties.

The state government then constituted a committee to go into the pros and cons of mining but the panel is yet to submit its report.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the party's second national executive meeting here, Sangma, also minister for finance, power and tourism of Meghalaya, criticised the Assam government for not taking up enough measures for checking influx of Bangladeshis.

Sangma, said both the Centre and the Assam government should take up a two-pronged strategy to control the problem -- first, by identifying the Bangladeshis and second, by developing the fringe areas in the borders so that people are empowered to stop the illegal migration.