Officials of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) have left for Nongbah-Jynrin to conduct a public hearing on Tuesday under tight security, even as the Khasi Students Union (KSU)-sponsored 36-hour bandh began in protest against the proposed uranium mining. The bandh, coupled with the heavy downpour, crippled normal life as Government offices, business establishments, financial and education institutions remained close. The KSU threat—that it would not allow the public hearing to take place—has led the state Government to rush two additional companies of the state police to quash its attempt to disturb the process of the hearing. Undaunted by the KSU posturing and threat, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner B Dhar told reporters that such public hearing would be held in many more villages that fall within the uranium belt. The rattling between the students’ body and the Government continued as Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee told The Indian Express that the public hearing would be held as per schedule. He, however, said that the decisions to either cancel or hold the hearing has to be made by the State Pollution Control Board and not by the state Government. “As of now, the state Government does not have any locus standi on the uranium mining issue, except that of a facilitator,” Chatterjee said.
