Uranium mining SHILLONG: Principal Advisor of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) V P Raja would soon place a report on the progress of the open-cast uranium mining in Meghalaya in the Prime Minister's Office. "I will submit a detailed report to the PMO on the progress of the project, besides opinion of the NGOs," Mr Raja told UNI here after winding his three-day visit to the State. The top DAE official is expected to place the report after Prime Minister Manm-ohan Singh's return from the US and France. Incidentally, the Prime Minister's trip could seal the path-breaking nuclear deal with Washington and another atomic pact with Paris. Mr Raja held a series of dialogues with the state government and civil society groups on the proposed uranium mining at West Khasi Hills district. "We will continue to have dialogue with them to ensure a consensus on the project. There is no deadline... and we will proceed together with the consent of the state," he said. The UCIL had proposed to develop an opencast uranium mining and processing plant at Mawthabah in the West Khasi Hills district of the state, which has an estimated deposit of 9.22 million tonnes of uranium ore. In fact, the Centre has decided to sanction Rs 800 crore for development of infrastructure in the proposed uranium mining areas, provided that the government evolves a consensus over the mining issue. Accompanied by Chairman cum Managing Director of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) Ramendra Gupta, Mr Raja held separate meetings with Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy, Deputy Chief Minister HS Lyngdoh, Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh and Leader of Opposition DD Lapang. The Chief Minister, however, gave no assurance on the mining project. "Health matter is still a major concern for us and we shall wait for the report of the two expert committees," he said. One of the expert panels comprising State Health Department officials will look into the local concerns of health hazards. The other panel of specialists from the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) will look into the pros and cons of the uranium mining project. The Principal Advisor also met leaders of anti-mining groups-- Khasi Student's Union, Langrin Youth Welfare Association, Meghalaya People's Human Rights Council-- who had long opposed to the Uranium project due to fear of ill-health though uranium radiation.