(a)whether the Government has implemented its plan of exploiting the uranium reserves in the State of Meghalaya in order to bolster its atomic power generation capacity;
(b)if so, the details thereof including the status of the projects;
(c)whether any fresh talks have been held with the State Government of Meghalaya to set up the extraction facility; and
(d)if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :
(a)Yes, Sir.
(b)Uranium mineralization in Meghalaya has been found over a large area around Domiasiat, Wahkyn, Lostoin etc. Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL) under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has already made a plan to develop the mineral resources at Domiasiat under the name of “Kylleng Phendengsohiong Mawthabah (KPM) uranium mining project”. The project has the potential to generate substantial nuclear fuel for the atomic power plants of the country.
The Detailed Project report of the KPM uranium mining project has been approved by Atomic Energy Commission, Environmental clearance for this project has been obtained from Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) in December 2007. An agreement has also been signed between UCIL and the land owners of the project site in May 2007 for acquisition of land on annual lease rent basis. Approval to execute land lease with land owners, grant of mining lease and Consent for Establishment has been taken up with Meghalaya State government.
(c)Yes, Sir.
(d)Meetings with concerned authorities have been held as under:
i.Officials of UCIL had a meeting with Director of Mineral Resources and Mining Engineer, Department of Mines & Geology, Government of Meghalaya on the issues relating to Mining Lease on 01.03.2016.
ii.Joint Secretary (I&M), DAE, Mumbai had a meeting with Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Commissioner & Secretary Power, Director Distribution Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL), Resident Commissioner, Meghalaya House New Delhi who is also a Nodal Officer of the KPM Project on 11th May, 2016.
iii. Joint Secretary (I&M), DAE had a meeting with Director General of Police, Government of Meghalaya on 12.05.2016.
iv.Regional Director, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration & Research (AMD), North Eastern Region (NER) Shillong alongwith AMD officials and UCIL officials had a meeting with His Excellency, the Governor of Meghalaya, at Raj Bhavan Shillong on 18th August, 2016.
v.UCIL officials have also met the Chief Conservator of Forest & Chairman, State Pollution Control Board, Meghalaya regarding Consent for establishment from MSPCB.
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