Jamshedpur | Jun 17, 2016: Basu Sekhar, secretary at the department of atomic energy (DAE) will visit Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) on Friday to review the uranium enrichment work that is being pursued by the public sector enterprise in its seven mines across East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharswan districts.
Sekhar, who is also the chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, will visit Turamdih mine to take stock of safety arrangements. "The DAE secretary is visiting UCIL as part of his countrywide tour to review the atomic reactors fuel enrichment work at different atomic energy installations," said UCIL CMD Diwakar Acharya to TOI on Thursday.
Responding to a query CMD said: "The DAE secretary visit was planne dmuch earlier and therefore the proposed visit shouldn't be assumed as a visit to take stock of the accident site. However, it is quite obvious that there shall be some discussion about the tragic development during interaction with the officials."
On May 28 this year, three miners were killed and nine suffered serious injuries when there was large flow of slush during cleaning operation at the underground Turamdih mine. The UCIL, which is making big arrangements to make the visit successful, will likely take up the issue of prolonged delay in the lease renewal of the Jadudguda mine with the DAE secretary.
"Suspension of the mining activity at Jaduguda mine for nearly two years has affected our prospects and it is likely that this issue will be taken up with the AEC chairman," said a senior official of Jaduguda mine.
Since September 2014, quarry activities at Jaduguda mine is under suspension following a directive from the Union mines ministry that called for stopping of the mining works being carried through extension. UCIL is yet to receive the clearance from the Union environment and forest ministry for resumption of mining activity at Jaduguda.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)