SHILLONG: Ahead of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman Anil Kakodkar's visit to the State, the anti-nuclear groups have asserted that they will not bow down to the government pressure on the contentious issue of Uranium mining in the state. Dr Kakodkar, who is leading a high-level delegation to Meghalaya on August 22, will hold discussions with Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, also the Chairman of the All-Party Committee on Uranium Mining, and other senior government officials. He will also hold consultations with state political leaders, including leaders of the People's Democratic Party and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement, which are allies of the ruling Meghalaya Progressive Alliance. The AEC chief is also expected to hold discussions with anti-Uranium mining groups - the Khasi Student's Union and Meghalaya People's Human Rights Commission - that have been opposing Uranium mining for nearly two and a half decades now. ''We will keep on opposing the Centre's move to mine uranium in the state. We will not allow this to happen anywhere in the state,'' KSU president Samuel Jyrwa told UNI over the phone. Mr Jyrwa, however, said the student's body was ready to meet Mr Kakodkar and share its views on the uranium mining issue. Echoing the KSU's views, MPHRC chief DDG Dympep said the Council welcomed Mr Kakodkar's visit to Shillong, but under no circumstances, would allow mining of Uranium. Both the groups have opposed mining of uranium in the area fearing health hazards due to radiation. In fact, the state government has constituted two expert groups to study the impact of uranium mining and report its findings to the All-Party Committee on Uranium Mining formed by the MPA government. The Opposition Congress is also part of the All-Party Committee. The expert committee on health has already started its investigation and examined the physical health of the local residents in the area, the official said. The second independent group has also been formed with North Eastern Hills University (NEHU) Registrar D T Khating and former principal of Dhanbad School of Mining Prof B Dhar as its members. Both these groups will submit the reports to the All-Party Committee. The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) has planned to develop open cast mining for production of 3,75,000 tonnes of uranium deposits at Kylleng-Pyndeng-Sohiong village and a processing plant at Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills district. Uranium ore deposits there have an average grade of 0.085 per cent. In December, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests granted environmental clearance to the UCIL to mine Uranium ore at Kylleng-Pyndeng-Sohiong area based on the public hearing report, submitted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. The UCIL had assured sufficient measures for socio-economic uplift and sustainable development in the proposed mining areas. The Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) found Uranium oxide reserves, estimated at 9,500 tonnes, in about 9.22 million tonnes of ore in the state. (UNI)