Meghalaya | NEHU to submit report on uranium waste leakage this month

By Lamphrang Nongspung

SHILLONG:

The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is expected to submit its report within this month on the alleged leakages of toxic waste from the Uranium storage tanks at Nongbah-Jynrin in South West Khasi Hills (SWKH) district of Meghalaya.

The Meghalaya government had entrusted NEHU and IIT-Guwahati to conduct an in-depth study on the radiation level from the storage tank and, to establish if there is a health hazard to the local community. However, IIT-Guwahati was not able to carry out the exercise last month.

"NEHU is expected to submit its report within December. IIT-Guwahati would be able to carry out its study only in January," Meghalaya Chief Secretary (CS), MS Rao told reporters here on Wednesday.

When asked as to why IIT-Guwahati could not carry out its job, he said that they have got their own commitments.

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"We trusted these institutions since they are institutes of national repute falling under the Government of India. We will know the outcome of the NEHU's report very soon," the CS said.

The uranium site at Nongbah Jynrin became a centre of attention for all stakeholders -- residents, the traditional bodies, social organisations, political parties, following reports of leakages of the storage tanks.

Many people and organisations have visited the sites and came up with their own conclusions, with demands for a proper and independent inquiry into the alleged leakages as it poses a threat to the residents as well the ecosystem of the area.

Earlier, the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) expressed its dissatisfaction over the two agencies selected by the State Government to carry out the research, citing lack of trust.

“The Government mentioned IIT-Guwahati and NEHU, but they are not independent agencies. We need the government to give space for an independent agency also so that they can come up with an independent report. We are not satisfied,” KSU president Lambokstar Marngar had stated.

The SWKH district administration had already undertaken an inquiry into the matter and reported that there was no leakage.

(Edited by Ibankyntiew Mawrie)

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