Question : URANIUM MINING

(a) whether the Uranium mining in some forest areas in Jharkhand has created severe problems for the tribals living in these forests because of radiation emitted during uranium mining;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any environmental impact assesment study has been conducted by the Government in this regard;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the outcome of the assessment study;

(e) the rivers which pass through these forest where uranium mining has begun;

(f) whether the Union Government are aware of the fatal impact of mining activities in these forests; and

(g) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPACE & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY - (ADDITIONAL CHARGE) - (SHRI S. B. MOOKHERJEE)

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) & (d) There is no hazardous impact on the local people or the envirenment on account of operation of uranium mines in Jharkhand by Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL). The radiation levels in and around Jaduguda is almost same as in other parts of the district. The radiation levels in UCIL mines and mills are well within the limits prescribed in this behalf by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) which are in turn based on the recommendations of the nternational Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). For the systematic and effective monitoring of radiation levels in and around the mines/mills, a well equiped Health Physics Unit-cum-Environmental Survey Laboratory of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), which is independent of UCIL, has been in operation at Jaduguda since the inception of UCIL.

Environment Impact Assessment has been done by MECON Ltd., a Central PSU, for the proposed mine at Banduhurang. Salient features of the assessment are:

#	Change in topography will not have appreciable impact on drainage and aesthetics;
#	In buffer zone there shall be no change in drainage system due to the mining project;
#	In operational stage some change in land use in nearby buffer zone is anticipated due to increased	economic activities, urbanization, etc. which is viewed as positive change because existing amenities	are poor in the region;
#	Quality of groundwater show that in buffer zone, prior to mining, iron is higher than the limits because of	presence of iron salt in the host rocks. Mining and allied activities will have no impact or bearing on these;
#	The exixting background level of dust, as indicated by the present(pre-mining) monitoring data, is very less.	The estimated dust level rise shall not cause any appreciable impact on the neighbouring environment;