SHILLONG: Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Anil Kakodkar is likely to arrive in the State on August 21 to discuss the proposed uranium mining project at Mawthabah in West Khasi Hills with the State Government. According to sources, Dr Kakodkar is expected to hold discussion with Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy and other top officials on the proposed project. He will be accompanied by senior officials of the Union Atomic Energy Department including its Joint Secretary S Mendiratta. Officials of the Atomic Minerals Directorate here, however, remained tightlipped about the visit although it was learnt that Dr Kakodkar might also highlight the Centre's view on uranium mining before some local NGOs. The proposed visit of Dr Kakodkar assumes significance in view of the current demand for uranium in the country for electricity generation and the Centre's recent decision to go ahead with the Indo-US nuclear deal. The Centre is learnt to have expressed its desire to start the uranium project at Mawthabah as early as possible in order to avert any escalation of project cost. The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) had been entrusted with the project at an initial cost of around Rs 1000 crore. As part of its initiative to bring political consensus on the vexed uranium mining issue, the MPA Government recently reconstituted the All Party Committee on Uranium Mining (APCUM) with Deputy Chief Minister Hoping Stone Lyngdoh as its chairman. It may be mentioned that the uranium project had received strong opposition from HSPDP, KHNAM, KSU and some other local organisations operating near the project site as, according to them, radiation from mining would cause health hazards for the local villagers.