Uranium: Public hearing over, party leaders fight

The public hearing over the uranium issue may be over, but the political fallout is only now unfolding. Two influential leaders...

The public hearing over the uranium issue may be over, but the political fallout is only now unfolding. Two influential leaders8212;Urban Affairs Minister and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement KHNAM President Paul Lyngdoh and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council KHADC Chief Executive Member H S Shylla8212;are currently engaged in a very public spat.

Shylla attacked Lyngdoh on Wednesday, asking the latter to resign from the ministry for supporting the Khasi Students Union8217;s KSU anti-uranium mining drive. On Thursday, it was Lyngdoh8217;s turn to spew venom. He said Shylla was a 8220;confused man8221; who made 8220;infantile and juvenile8221; statements. 8220;He should either resign from the CEM8217;s post or start a new political party financed by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited UCIL or quit politics altogether,8221; Lyngdoh said. He added that Shylla had taken many unilateral decisions regarding the uranium mining issue and had hastily accepted Rs 20 crore from UCIL for the construction of a road at Mawthabah without consulting anybody.

Lyngdoh said Tuesday8217;s verdict of the people against uranium mining proved that Shylla had failed to influence the public mindset. Majority of the people who attended the public hearing organised by the state pollution control board at Nongbah-Jynrin rejected the mining proposal. However, the board will organise more such hearings in other parts of the state before forwarding the report to the Centre.

The verbal duel between Shylla and Lyngdoh has political ramifications as the former will be contesting as Congress candidate from the Nongkrem constituency, which is presently represented by KHNAM legislator Lambor Malngiang. Earlier too Shylla had accused Malngiang of misappropriation of MLA funds.

Meanwhile, the MDA Government8217;s decision to form an all party committee to weigh the pros and cons of uranium mining is being seen as a political ploy to skirt the issue till the Assembly elections are over in February 2008. Neither the Congress nor the coalition partners8212;United Democratic Party , Meghalaya Democratic Party , Hills State People8217;s Democratic Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement 8212; want to appear to be in favour of mining in the state.