Australia keen to invest in uranium mining in Meghalaya

Shillong: Australian high commissioner to India John Phlip McCarthy says Australia is keen to invest in uranium mining operations in Meghalaya and share mining safety technologies.

''''We want to invest in Meghalaya for mining uranium, coal, limestone and others provided if the country welcomes us," McCarthy adding, ''''Though our companies are interested in investments in India, we need to do certain changes to make things feasible.''''

Despite the concerted anti-mining against, the state government and Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) have decided to proceed with UCIL''s proposed development of open cast mining at Kylleng-Pyndengsohiong mining and ore processing project at Mawthabah in the West Khasi hills district.

The project, which was estimated to cost Rs300 crore in 1992 has now escalated to Rs814 crore and is being strongly opposed by the hills state People''s Democratic Party and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, allies of Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, along with the Khasi student''s union and other unions.

The uranium ore deposits in those areas have an average grade of 0.085 per cent, official sources said. The uranium deposits in the state is the largest, richest, near-surface and low-cost, the sandstone-type uranium deposit spread over a 10-square-kilometer area and varying from 8-47 meters from the surface.

The anti-mining groups have opposed the project citing health and environment hazards in the state.