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Shillong, April 29 : The Khasi Student's Union (KSU), spearheading the movement against the proposed uranium mining, today reiterated its opposition to the mining project and the proposal to set up a nuclear plant in Meghalaya. ''Our long opposition is based on the hazardous effects and deadly fallout that will surely arise if the mining is allowed to take place,'' KSU president Samuel Jyrwa told reporters after airing their views on uranium mining to Governor R S Mooshahary.

The KSU leaders drove to the Raj Bhavan after villagers from the proposed uranium mining areas in the state's West Khasi Hills district had urged Mooshahary to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) to start the long-pending Kylleng-Pyndeng-Sohiong uranium project. Even though the Centre had issued NOC to UCIL, until and unless the state government gives approval, the company cannot go ahead to mine the mineral, the KSU chief said.

Jyrwa said the organisation also informed the governor that about 75 per cent of the people had opposed the proposed uranium mining citing the reasons on the grounds of the effects on health, influx of non-indigenous people, land alienation and militarisation. ''Therefore, the KSU demands the Centre to cancel the proposed uranium mining project and strongly urge not to adopt any measures of inducement, intimidation and force against the people who are demanding the guarantees for the safety and security of the generations to come,'' he said.

The UCIL has proposed a Rs 1,046 crore open-cast uranium mining and processing plant at Mawthabah near the mining site. New Delhi also proposed to sanction Rs 800 crore for development of infrastructure in the proposed uranium mining areas. Sources in the UCIL said the Centre had made up its mind to kick off the Uranium project in Meghalaya very soon. The state government too is said to be aware of the developments regarding the Centre's stand.
India has an urgent need of fuel to feed its nuclear power plants which have been functioning at about half their capacity of 4,000 MW due to shortage of nuclear fuel. ''We understand that the Government of India is very much in need of Uranium but we cannot compromise the issue with the danger posed from mining of the mineral,'' Jyrwa added. Earlier, the governor had indicated that mining of uranium in the state would be carried out within next year in view of India's urgent need for nuclear fuel.