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. Addressing newsmen in the city, Chief Minister and chairman of the all-party committee Dr Donkupar Roy said two independent expert groups, one from the State and the other from outside, would make a comprehensive study of the effects of uranium mining. "After a threadbare discussion by members of the All-Party Committee on Uranium Mining, we have decided to constitute two independent expert groups to study the issues related to radiation and health hazards in the areas surrounding the site of the proposed uranium mining project," Dr Roy said. The Chief Minister said a third group comprising officials from the State Health Department would examine the health status of local people who were involved in the exploratory mining of uranium by Atomic Minerals Division (AMD) in 1991. The group would also visit Jadugoda in Jharkhand and other uranium mining sites like Cudappah in Andhra Pradesh to study the effects of uranium mining on local people there, Dr Roy said. The Committee chairman said the two independent expert groups would do a survey and report to the government on the overall implications of allowing uranium mining in the State. Dr Roy informed that the next meeting of the all-party committee would study the reports submitted by the expert groups before making its recommendations to the government for a final decision on the issue. NGOs and other stakeholders would also be invited to the meeting. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the State Government would not take a hurried decision but would take into account the "voice of the people" before making a final decision on the issue. Deputy Chief Minister and HSPDP president HS Lyngdoh said if uranium was going to be used for making bombs and if radiation hazards were not taken care of then he would stand opposed to uranium mining. Urban Affairs Minister and KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh, however, expressed doubts about the credibility of UCIL which, he said, had not been very transparent in its transactions. Paul Lyngdoh, on the other hand, said the white paper circulated by UCIL saying that the majority of people were for uranium mining was a "big sham." He also referred to West Khasi Hills DC FR Kharlyngdoh's report that said "only 23 per cent of the people were for uranium mining." The Urban Affairs Minister further said if UCIL could "misrepresent facts it would be difficult to support uranium mining." He, however, indicated that his party might consider changing its stand on the issue if the expert groups could assure the people that uranium mining would not affect the health of local people. Interestingly, the lone member nominated by Congress to attend the meeting gave it a miss.