Newmai News Network Shillong | August 1 The Regional Director of the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) has informed of the directorate’s decision to stop all research work that it is conducting in Meghalaya’s uranium rich areas. This decision was prompted by stiff opposition in the state against these operations that were being conducted by the AMD which in turn had led to a meeting convened by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on Wednesday. “We have taken a conscious decision after seeing the situation and the sentiments of the people. Now we have stopped our work and we have completely closed down our operations in Meghalaya,” Regional Director, Sandeep Hamilton said. The KHADC has summoned the AMD officials after allegations that the department had taken up exploratory drilling of uranium in areas under South West Khasi Hills district without getting any permission from the state government and the Council. Himilton said that the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 allows the department to work anywhere in India and that only permission of local landowner if at all is required for the collection of samples. On the other hand, AMD deputy regional director Dr Rahul Banerjee said that the purpose of the visit to Wahkaji was to take sub-surface samples. “We were doing small boreholes of 20-30 meters to extract some samples for doing Research and Development for laboratory purpose, analysis and microscopic studies,” he said. Stating that AMD is not involved in uranium mining activities, Banerjee said that AMD is not a mining agency, it is only for conducting research on atomic minerals which not only include uranium. “AMD and the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) are two different entities. AMD is purely a central organization whereas UCIL is a public sector undertaking. AMD has no mandate for mining and our work ends after search and research of atomic minerals,” he added. When asked whether they have informed the district authorities before taking up such research work in areas considered to be “sensitive”, the deputy regional director however said that AMD is a pan India organization and such type of exploration activities are being carried out in the different states. “We have annual field season programme and our department informs every state’s chief secretary about the work that is going to be taken up in those areas. That intimation goes to every state and chief secretary and as far as we require any assistance or help or any type of support then we certainly go to the district administration to seek their permission and help,” he said.
