Jamshedpur: The deadlock over the recommencement of mining activities in Jadugora mines of the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) is likely to end soon as the East Singhbhum administration has given the requisite clearance for mining work following the state government’s in-principle nod to the corporation for resuming mining earlier in October.
UCIL authorities said the uranium enrichment exercise at the mine will commence in next few days as soon as the documents pertaining to the district administration’s approval for resumption of the work arrives at the company office in Jadugora.
Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) is hopeful of getting the renewal of Jadugoda uranium ore mine lease soon to keep mining activities in progress.
The Jadugoda mine is closed since September 7, 2014 following a state government directive which was taken in light of recent amendments in the Mineral Concession Rules – 1960 , forbidding mining under deemed extension.
�We have completed our work and we are hopeful to get the lease approval soon which will help us to maintain production level,” noted an official.
He informed that due to suspension of work at Jadugoda the company has adjusted around 700 employees to other mines like Narwapahar and Bagjata so that they workers don�t lose their and are engaged in other mines.
UCIL first got the mining lease at Jadugora uranium mines in 1967 for 20 years and subsequently the licence was renewed (described as first renewal) in 1987 for another 20 years that expired in 2007. Since then, the company has been carrying out mining in the area under deemed extension.
The order is confined only to the Jadugora mines. All the other uranium mines- Bagjata, Narwapahar, Turamdih, Banduhurang (all in East Singhbhum) and Mohuldih ( in Seraikela-Kharsawan district) are working as usual.
UCIL was incorporated on October 4, 1967. UCIL is a public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Fulfilling the requirement of Uranium, UCIL plays a very significant role in India�s nuclear power generation programme. UCIL is an ISO 9001, 14001 18001 company and has adopted the latest state-of-the-art technology for its mines and process plant.