Antinuclear

Political and NGO movement to stop uranium mining in Indian national park

Former Lok Sabha threatens agitation against uranium mining Prokerala.com Shillong, April 22 Former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A. Sangma Thursday threatened to launch an agitation against the central government’s proposal to conduct exploratory drilling for uranium inside the Balpakram National Parkin the South Garo hills of Meghalaya.

The 400-sq km BNP is a known habitat for the Asian elephant, tiger and other endangered animals such as, Hoolock Gibbon and Slow Loris, apart from being home to rare and endemic plants.

Sangma’s threat assume significance after the National Board of Wildlife

(NBWL) approved the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)’s proposal to conduct exploratory drilling of uranium in the ecologically fragile Rongcheng plateau of the Balpakram National Park in Meghalaya.

The NBWL is headed by Prime Minsister Manmohan Singh.

……Sangma said political (Garo) leaders and NGO leaders will meet at Tura in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district to protest against the government’s decision to explore uranium inside Balpakram. Former Lok Sabha threatens agitation against uranium mining

April 23, 2010 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | 1, uranium | antinuclear, indigenous, uranium