Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information from the United NGOs Mission, Manipur and the North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF). It concerns uranium mining and its deleterious effects in Meghalaya. The presence of open uranium pits in the region poses significant health risks to human beings, animals, aquatic life plus severe pollution to the environment. Of note, is that there are nine cement factories operating on forest land and carrying out limestone mining. This is causing regional environmental degradation and pollution.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On May 16, 2017, anti-mining groups in Meghalaya told the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) officials that they would not allow the company to mine uranium in the state. A team of UCIL officials, led by their Chairman and managing Director, C.K. Asnani, held a meeting with five anti-mining groups. They sought their views and opinions on Kylleng Pyndengsoniong Mawthabah (KPM) uranium mining project that has been stalled for over twenty years. We informed the UCIL officials to scrap the proposal to mine uranium in Meghalaya. We will not allow anyone to mine this radio-active mineral in Meghalaya. A quote from Samuel Jyrwa, Chairman of The North East student’s Organization (NESO).
There are two Concrete Tanks, 40 x 40 feet in Nongbahjynrim Village. These tanks were built to cover the remaining, mammoth, open pits after the mining had stopped. The villagers informed us that there were hundreds of trucks loaded with uranium materials that were taken away for testing from 1992-95. There is an additional Concrete Tank in the Domiasiat village where uranium exploration was conducted. These three Concrete Tanks are leaking on the sides and the top. The cracks have been poorly repaired with cement.
From 2009 onwards, many civil society organisations and student organisations like the Khasi Student Organisation, North-East Student Organisation, Churches and Women’s rights Organisations have been protesting against the uranium-ore exploration and mining in the region. There are many villagers who refused to give over their land for exploration. One woman, Spillity Lyngdoh, about 85 years old, had rejected money to sell her land to the UCIL. She said, “Our mountain is our future.”
Dangerous side effects on personal health and the environment
A recent report on the situation in Meghalaya also details the situation in Domiasiat and other villages. It breaks down the ill-effects of years of uranium-ore exploration and mining in the region. It reported that fish in the rivers are diseased. Several adults in the Domiasiat village suffered from muscular diseases, seizures, epilepsy and cancer. Similar findings were reported from other villages. A Reporter for the Caravan interviewed Lyngdoh writing:
“In 2014, she lost Pon, her 54-year-old son, to throat cancer. Norman Donald Syiem, DomiasiatÂ’s Village Chief and Lyngdoh’s son-in-law, told me that since the exploration began, five members of the clan have died from mysterious illnesses. Some continue to suffer from debilitating medical abnormalities, such as ulcers, skin diseases, epilepsy and malformed limbs”
In Photjaud and Tynnai Villages there were about one hundred small boring pits. According to our sources, the response from the Central Pollution Control Board, Shillong, is that the air or water pollution due to uranium mining is not being monitored by the Board. The two villages have reported that there are 93 children below the age of 13-15 that are mentally and physically disabled. Approximately 46 women have experienced miscarriages after 5 to 7 months of pregnancy from 2009-2015. Almost all of the villagers have respiratory problem
It is also alleged that the Ranikhor River changed color. It turned from blue to green and fish in the river died from 2010 onwards.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Since early 1991-92, the Atomic Minerals Division (AMD) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), the Union ministry of Atomic Energy and the Indian Government started exploratory mining of Uranium in the West Khasi Hill. It is now under two districts, namely, the south west Khasi Hill District and the West Khasi Hill District.
According to reports, the Central government is planning to revive uranium mining in Meghalaya. The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) has sided with Student Organizations and NGOs in opposing the Centre’’s plans. According to P.N. Syiem, Chief Executive Member of KHADC, the council has unanimously approved their decision. It will not grant the No Objection Certificate for uranium mining in Meghalaya.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the relevant authorities requesting that:
a. Immediate action to be taken, to fill in all the uranium mining pits in Meghalaya. Ensure renovation or repair of the Cement Tanks which have serious cracks in roofs and walls– in the Nongbahjynrim and Domiasiat Villages.
b. The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report is reviewed by a new Committee with representation from the different organisations.
c. Threats are stopped to organisation members demanding an end to uranium mining.
d. Adequate health care facilities are provided for the villagers and Tribals affected by regional uranium mining .
e. Stop all cement factories from operating until they obtain a Human Impact Assessment Report and ensure adequate social and environmental safeguards are in place.
f. An independent scientific study of the effects on people and the environment as a result of regional uranium ore exploration and mining is conducted
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for their intervention in the matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
INDIA: Stop uranium exploration in Meghalaya and provide adequate healthcare facilities for affected villagers
Name of victims: Meghalaya Villagers affected by uranium-ore exploration
Place of incident: Meghalaya
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding uranium mining and its deleterious effects in Meghalaya. The presence of open uranium pits in the region poses significant health risks to human beings, animals and aquatic life with severe pollution to the environment. There were nine cement factories being run on forest land, conducting limestone mining and causing regional environmental degradation and pollution.
On May 16, 2017, anti-mining groups in Meghalaya told the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) officials that they would not allow the company to mine uranium in the state. A team of UCIL officials led by their Chairman and managing Director, C.K. Asnani held a meeting with five anti-mining groups seeking their views and opinions on Kylleng Pyndengsoniong Mawthabah (KPM) uranium mining project – stalled for over twenty years. We informed the UCIL officials to scrap the proposal to mine uranium in Meghalaya. We will not allow anyone to mine this radio-active mineral in Meghalaya. This is a quote from Samuel Jyrwa, Chairman of the North East studentÂ’s Organisation (NESO).
There are two Concrete tanks 40 x 40 feet in Nongbahjynrim Village. The tanks were built to cover the mammoth, open pits after the mining stopped. The villagers informed us that there were hundreds of trucks loaded with uranium materials that were taken away for testing from 1992-95. There is also one Concrete Tank in Domiasiat village where the exploration of uranium was conducted. These 3 concrete tanks are leaking on the sides and on the tops. These cracks have been poorly repaired with cement.
From 2009 onwards, many civil society organisations and student organisations like the Khasi Student Organisation, North-East Student Organisation, Churches and WomenÂ’s rights Organisations have been protesting against the uranium-ore exploration and mining in the region. There are many villagers who refused to give their land up for exploration. One woman Spillity Lyngdoh, who is about 85 years old, rejected money to sell her land to the UCIL. She said, Our mountain is our future.”
A recent report on the situation in Meghalaya details the situation in Domiasiat and other villages and the ill-effects of years of uranium-ore exploration and mining in the region. It was reported that fish in the rivers were diseased, and that several adults in Domiasiat village suffered from muscular diseases, seizures, epilepsy and cancer with similar reports from other villages. A Reporter from The Caravan interviewed Lyngdoh writing:
In 2014, she lost Pon, her 54-year-old son, to throat cancer. Norman Donald Syiem, Domiasiat’s village chief and Lyngdoh’s son-in-law, told me that since the exploration began, five members of the clan have died due to mysterious illnesses. Some continue to suffer from debilitating medical abnormalities, such as ulcers, skin diseases, epilepsy and malformed limbs.
In Photjaud and Tynnai Villages there were one hundred small boring pits. According to our sources, the response from the Central Pollution Control Board, Shillong, is that the air or water pollution due to uranium mining is NOT being monitored by the Board. The two villages have reported that there are 93 children below the age of 13-15 that are mentally and physically disabled. Approximately 46 women have experienced miscarriages after 5 to 7 months of pregnancy from 2009-2015. Almost all the villagers have respiratory problems.
It is also alleged that the Ranikhor River changed color from blue to green. Fish in the river started dying from 2010 onwards.
I therefore urge your good offices to;
- Take immediate action to fill up all the uranium mining pits in Meghalaya and ensure renovation or repair of the Cemented Tanks which have serious cracks in the roofs and walls in Nongbahjynrim and Domiasiat Villages;
- To review the report of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment by constituting a new Committee with representation from the different organisations;
- See that the threats are halted against members of the Organisation demanding an end to uranium mining.
- Provide adequate health care facilities to the villagers and Tribals in the regions affected by uranium mining operations in the cement factories are halted until they have a Human Impact Assessment and have ensured that social and environmental safe guard measures are in place; and
- To conduct an independent scientific study of the effects on people and the environment.
Yours Sincerely,
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Justice H.L. Dattu, Chairperson
National Human Rights Commsion
Manav Adhikar Bhawan
Block-C, G.P.O. Complex, INA
New Delhi-110023
Email:cr.nhrc@nic.in
2. Michael Forst
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Palais Wilson
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH 1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Email: urgent-action@ohchr.org
3. Shri. Jual Oram
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs
1, Pt. Motilal Nehru Marg,
New Delhi – 110001
Tel : +91 11 23381499 / 23388482
Fax: +9111-23070577(FAX
Email: jualoram@nic.in
4. Victoria Tauli Corpuz
UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples
c/o Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Palais Wilson
United Nations Office at Geneva
CH 1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
Email: indigenous@ohchr.org
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
