Meghalaya may shift power project for uranium deposits

December 17th, 2011 - 8:09 pm ICT by IANS  

Shillong, Dec 17 (IANS) The Meghalaya government is contemplating shifting the proposed 450 MW Kynshi hydro electric project due to the presence of uranium deposits on the banks of the Kynshi river, an official said Saturday.

“We are contemplating to shift the power project from the present site to the downstream of the river after the Atomic Minerals Division (AMD) report on the uranium deposits,” Additional Chief Secretary (power) B.K. Dev Varma told IANS.

Varma said 300 to 400 acres of land will be submerged if the hydro project is constructed at the present site.

The AMD has already written to the Meghalaya government objecting to the project on the ground that there are uranium deposits on the bank of Kynshi river.

The Kynshi project is in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district, known for rich deposits of uranium.

“We have briefed Meghalaya government officials on uranium deposits on the banks of Kynshi. If the power project comes up in that place, we are sure that area would submerge,” an AMD official said on condition of anonymity.

Varma said the Meghalaya government would hold discussions on the issue by January next year to take a final decision on the Kynshi Stage-II hydro electric project to be executed by the Jaypee Group through Jaiprakash Power Venture Limited (JPVL).

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