Meghalaya CM open to option of third or fourth party for in-depth study on uranium effluents

SHILLONG

Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said that the State Government has not closed the option of a third or fourth party to conduct an in-depth study on the alleged report of leakages of toxic waste from the storage tank of uranium effluents at Nongbah-Jynrin in South West Khasi Hills.

Sangma made this remark while replying to the question on the opposition of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) to assign the job to the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati and demanded that an independent agency with expertise on this subject should be assigned with the job.

“Both NEHU and IIT, Guwahati are independent bodies. We are looking at these two organisations since we can quickly implement things. The situation which we are facing have a lot of challenges. It makes things easier with NEHU and IIT. But we have not closed the option of having a third or fourth party,” Sangma told reporters here today.

He further asserted that the security and safety of the people is the primary concern of the State Government.

“Therefore, whatever it takes, we would go down deep and find out what are the facts. It is good that NEHU and IIT, Guwahati, are doing the job. Let them submit their reports. The process will continue and we want to ensure that the people are safe,” Meghalaya Chief Minister said.

Earlier, Chief Secretary, MS Rao had informed that NEHU had already constituted a team and has been told to submit its report within a couple of weeks. Rao said that they are waiting from IIT, Guwahati to formally reply for accepting the request of the State Government to take up the job.