T.V. Sivanandan
UCIL is awaiting final clearance from Ministry
SHAHAPUR (YADGIR DISTrict): Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL) is all set to begin mining uranium ore in 40 hectares of land in Gogi village of Shahapur taluk in Yadgir district. The public hearing on the proposed project was held in Gogi village on November 18, and UCIL is now awaiting final clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Official sources told The Hindu here on Thursday that the ministry had already given environmental clearance for the exploratory mine in May 2007, and a formal application for mining in 39.133 hectares was submitted on February 24. Sources said that the UCIL, which at present has five mines in different locations in Jharkhand, was in the process of establishing two more mines: one each in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand. It proposes to set up three more mines: one each in Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Gogi in Karnataka. The UCIL proposes to mine 1.5 lakh tonnes of uranium extract in the form of sodium diuranate (SDU) concentrate (yellow cake) and send the SDU to Hyderabad for processing for use in nuclear power plants in the country. Initial processing of the uranium ore will be done at the processing plant to be set up at Saidapur, Diggi and Umaradoddi villages, 6 km from the mining area.
Sources said the estimated cost of the project is Rs. 550 crore and the life of the mine is estimated to be more than 15 years.
‘No threat'
Sources said there was no threat of radiation from mining uranium ore in Gogi. The initial study conducted by UCIL said there would not be any significant radiological impact on the local population. Besides this, the increase in background radiation owing to handling of radioactive minerals was expected to be insignificant because of the low grade of ore and stringent dust control measures. Radon (a radioactive element in the form of a gas) from the exhaust air from the mine will dissipate to near background levels within a short distance of the ventilation shaft.
The UCIL has said that all unskilled-worker posts and 30 per cent of semi-skilled and skilled worker posts will be filled by members of families whose land is to be acquired for the project. Those who do not get employment will be given annual financial assistance. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Yadgir district K.G. Jagadeesh said the Government has begun the land acquisition process pending final clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Initial processing of uranium ore to be done at Saidapur, Diggi and Umaradoddi villages
Study done by UCIL says there would not be significant radiological impact on local population