A team of experts from the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) have started an in-depth study on alleged leakages of uranium ores stored in tanks at Nongbah Jynrin in South West Khasi Hills district.
“NEHU has constituted an expert team, which has already started working,” M.S. Rao, chief secretary of Meghalaya, said.
The Meghalaya government had requested NEHU and IIT Guwahati to carry out an in-depth study after reports of a leakage from a concrete tank allegedly containing radioactive Uranium waste at Nongbah Jynrin, located 132 kms Southwest of Shillong.
Initially the district administration had undertaken an inquiry, and had reported that there was no leakage. But, local pressure groups and environmentalists continued to demand for a detailed scientific investigation into the case.
Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) members had also visited the site along with environmental economist Dr Bremley WB Lyngdoh. The KSU team had also complained about high-level of radio-active radiation in the area.
While the NEHU team has been constituted, and started the work, the Meghalaya government is yet to get any update from IIT Guwahati.
Initially, IIT Guwahati had also informally agreed to be part of the investigating team.
The chief secretary said Meghalaya government is optimistic that the NEHU team will be able to submit the reports at the earliest.
Earlier some groups have opposed the government’s decision to engage central universities to study the issue.
“These are institutes of repute. They will not stake their credibility and we believe they will give us report based on truth,” the chief secretary said.