Rakteem Katakey / New Delhi July 25, 2008, 0:20 IST

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the country's largest oil and gas producer, plans to enter uranium mining in alliance with public-sector Uranium Corporation of India, aiming to tap the business opportunity from nuclear fuel shortage in Asia's third largest economy.

ONGC is aligning with Uranium Corporation as the latter is the only entity allowed to undertake uranium mining in India, and has the power to allot mining leases to others like ONGC, said two analysts tracking the nuclear industry.

Shillong: The Langrin Youth Welfare Association (LYWA) has reiterated its opposition to the proposed mining of uranium by the UCIL in the State. In a letter to Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy here on Friday, LYWA president BS Lyngdoh stated that nearly 90 per cent of the people in the area in West Khasi Hills are totally against the proposed uranium mining project at Phodkylleng-Pyndensohiong in West Khasi Hills district.

SHILLONG: The All-Party Committee on Uranium Mining has recommended formation of three expert groups to study health hazards and radiation effects before making a final recommendation to the State Government on the sensitive issue.

The all-party panel, which met here for the first time on Friday, asked the government to constitute two groups of experts to study the health and environmental impacts of uranium mining in and around Mawthabah, West Khasi Hills.

During its first meeting on Friday, the all-party committee constituted by the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) coalition Government on uranium mining decided to form three groups of experts to study the implications of uranium mining by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in Kylleng-Pyndeng-Sohiong in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

SHILLONG, July 17: Consensus will determine the Governments decision on the proposed uranium mining in the State, asserted Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy. Ahead of Friday's all party meeting on uranium mining in Shillong, the Chief Minister told mediapersons "Any decision on the complex issue will be bases on consensus'.
Categorically stating that no decision will be imposed on the people of the State, Roy said, "The issue of health hazard will have to be discussed thoroughly before taking any decision'.

MUMBAI: Uranium content in well water in Varanasi is neither alarming nor abnormal and health effects attributed to such low levels are imaginary, a scientist has said. Traces of uranium are present in soil, water and rock. It is as abundant as tin, tungsten or molybdenum, former secretary of AERC Board K.R. Parthasarathy said here.

Can the Grand Canyon survive it? Many attribute this rush to the belief that nuclear power is poised for a revival, with a new facelift of

Varanasi: Groundwater in Varanasi and adjoining areas is contaminated with uranium, according to a study by a group of scientists. The study conducted by G.C. Chowdhary, former Professor at the Geology Department of Banaras Hindu University, and S.K. Agarwal, also a professor of Geology, has shown that the drinking water in the University premises and some other places in the city contains more radioactive uranium than the recommended limit. Samples for the study were collected from 11 tubewells tapping deep aquifers (more than 100 metre deep).

R. Ramachandran A temporary shortage has arisen because of a supply-demand mismatch. Why resort to imports through an undesirable deal?

Decades of investment in civilian nuclear power puts france in the energy catbird seat.

France ranks 10th in the EPI because of its supply of clean energy.