This is not true. The various studies carried out by experts have proved beyond doubt that the diseases prevalent in the villages around UCIL workings are not due to radiation but attributed to malnutrition, malaria and unhygienic living conditions etc. A full-fledged Environmental Survey Laboratory cum Health Physics Unit - an independent body under the administrative control of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is in operation since inception to carry out environmental and radiological surveillance in and around UCIL’s units. External gamma radiation, Radon concentration, suspended particulate matters, airborne long lived Alpha activity and concentration of radio nuclides- uranium and Radium in surface and ground water, in soil and food items etc are monitored regularly. Statistical data at regular intervals reveal no significant effect on ground and surface water bodies due to UCIL activities. Similarly up-take studies on more than thirty species of different groups (Plant & animal) show that that there is no significant change in background radiation due to UCIL operation. The studies carried out by experts prove that the diseases are not due to radiation.

On the suggestion of the Environment Committee of the Legislative Council of Bihar, a health survey of all the residents within 2 km of UCIL was jointly undertaken by a medical team comprising doctors from Bihar Government and UCIL in the year 1998. Seventeen settlements from 8 villages were covered in this survey. Around 3400 persons were examined and 31 persons were short-listed for further investigations. Detailed clinical examination of the short listed persons was also carried out. Subsequently, these cases were reviewed by a team of experts comprising medical and radiation safety personnel from BARC, UCIL, nuclear medicine specialists from Tata Main Hospital (Jamshedpur) and doctors from Bihar Government including the Civil Surgeon of Singhbhum (East) District. After such detailed review, the team was convinced and unanimously agreed that the disease pattern cannot be ascribed to radiation exposure in any of these cases. The report clearly stated "The consensus of all the doctors was that the cases examined had congenital limb anomalies, diseases due to genetic abnormalities like thalassaemia major and retinitis, pigmentosa, moderate to gross splenomegaly due to chronic malarial infection (as this is a hyper endemic area) malnutrition, post encephalitic and post-head injury sequele". The medical survey by specialists did not identify any patient suffering from radiation related diseases.

Until now, the anti nuclear groups were quoting the “Careful Scientific Health Survey of Anumukti” in the villages nearby Jaduguda to prove adverse effects.  The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD), which conducted another survey with support from by the Ploughshares Fund, now, competes with “Anumukti”.  Both “Anumukti” and IDPD successfully circumvented the traditional, scientific peer review and publication process by exploiting newspapers and periodicals. They dished out reports mentioning stories of human interest invariably spiced with melancholy and drama. They used telling pictures of human suffering to condition the viewer to connect any disease with the agent that allegedly caused it.

A health survey of the villagers residing near Jaduguda Mines was carried out between January 2006 and December 2006 by UCIL doctors. 598 villagers from Bhatin, Mechua, Tilaitand and Tirilghutu have been examined.

Number of Persons examined in each Village Sex wise Distribution

In this survey, attention has been given to health problems due to radiation, like congenital malformation, mental retardation, cancer and infertility.  No case of congenital malformation and mental retardation was detected.   No cancer cases were found.  The number of infertility amongst the married women is about 02 cases, which is well below the national average. The villagers suffer from conventional health problems, which could be seen in any village with similar socio-economic condition.

Besides what is pointed in (3) above, health records maintained at UCIL Hospital show that the various ailment like TB, Congenital Malformation, Cancer etc. in and around Jaduguda are much less than the national average, as is evident in the data below:

TB Cases: The percentage of tuberculosis patients is 0.5 – 0.6% as against the National Average of 1.5%.

Congenital Malformation: Total births at UCIL Hospital, Jaduguda from 1994-2003 is 4765.  Congenital malformation during above period is 13.  So the percentage is 0.25% (National figure 4 - 6% congenital malformation)

Cancer cases: The incidence of cancer is 14 per 24000 or 58 per lakh during 2001-03 as against the National average of 106.2 – 130.4 for men and 100-140.7 for women per lakh population per year. 

949 cases from three villages, namely – Chatikocha, Dungridih and Tilaitand were examined.  260 were males, 314 females and 375 children below 12 years.  The following teratogenic effects affecting three generation were not seen;
(1) Mental retardation: No cases were detected.

UCIL has a track record of adopting absolutely safe and environment friendly working practices in Uranium Mining and Processing activities. Company’s commitment to safety of its employees, member of public and maintenance of clean environment is beyond doubt. UCIL has obtained ISO 9001:2000 certification for Quality Assurance, ISO 14001:2004 certification for Environmental Management System and IS-18001:2000 certification for Occupational Health and Safety Management System. It reflects the commitment of the company towards safe and environment friendly operations in all its existing and upcoming projects. UCIL doctors under the guidance of Dr. G. K. Iyer, Consultant, Industrial Health, carried out a health check-up. A total of 949 villagers (260 males, 314 females and 375 children below 12 years of age) were examined in three villages situated very close to tailings-pond at Jaduguda. The conclusion from the study is that the health status of these villagers is almost normal. The health problems they are having are comparable to others in similar socio-economic parameters in any village in India. UCIL transports ore in covered dumpers. The waste rock produced from the mines is dumped as per the guidelines laid by regulatory bodies and regularly monitored. Tailings ponds have been fenced and guarded by CISF personnel round the clock. Any breach that takes place is regularly attended. The pipe burst spilling tailing slurry in December 2006 as referred was attended in the shortest possible time and corrective measures were also taken. There is no basis or truth in the statement that the company supplied tailings as construction materials to the villagers.

It is not true because UCIL never allows the uranium ore (rock) to be taken out by any unauthorized person out of its premises. Company has also made arrangements for washing of uniforms. UCIL has a track record of adopting absolute safe and environment friendly working practices in Uranium Mining and Processing activities as prescribed in national/International safeguards. Company’s commitment to safety of its employees, member of public and maintenance of clean environment is beyond doubts. UCIL operations are also periodically reviewed/ inspected, by the relevant regulatory authorities like Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) & Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) etc.

Two types of wastes are generated while processing uranium ore i.e. liquor depleted in Uranium from ion exchange unit after Uranium recovery and filtered cake depleted in Uranium from filtration of leached slurry. Both are neutralized with lime stone and lime slurry to precipitate the remaining radio nuclides along with heavy metals like manganese, iron, copper etc. The neutralized slurry is classified and the coarse fraction is pumped back to the mines for back filling the voids. The fine particles are pumped into the tailing pond where slime settles and clear water is decanted through decantation wells and sent to the Effluent Treatment Plant for re-treatment. There are three tailings pond i.e, Stage-I to Stage-III. Stage-I & II are filled up and State-III is in use. Tailings pond is well-engineered and designed taking all possible measures to avoid any radiation exposure to the public. Tailings ponds have been fenced and guarded by CISF personnel. Any breach that takes place is regularly attended. Total 42 families were displaced for the purpose. Land for these tailings pond was acquired through State Government and as directed by the State Govt, the amount of compensation was deposited to the State Govt. for disbursement to the land displaced persons. In addition to compensation for land and houses, employment to each awardee was provided. They were also provided 12 decimal land each by the State Govt for rehabilitation and payment of Rs.45,000/- each by the company towards house construction grant. The details of land acquisition and the amount of compensation paid are given below :-

The radiation level around tailings pond area is well within the permissible limits laid down by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP). The dose limit for the members of public prescribed by ICRP and AERB is 1 mSv/y above natural background. The radiation level reduces drastically to background values even at about 10m away from tailing pond. The maximum possible dose received by the people living in the nearest village is only 0.15 mSv/y which is well below the prescribed limit. Some NGOs are alleging that persons living around tailings pond are suffering from different diseases due to radiation. But this is not fact. Surveys conducted in the past by teams of medical doctors and specialists including doctors from Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur, Health Department of Government of Bihar and Health Physicists and medical officers from BARC, have established that the specific cases of diseases examined by the teams have no relation to radiation. The conclusions of this team are reproduced below: “(a) The consensus of all the doctors was that the cases examined had congenital limb anomalies, diseases due to genetic abnormalities like thalassemia major and retinitis pigmentosa, moderate to gross splenomegaly due to chronic malarial infection (as this is a hyper endemic area), malnutrition, post encephalitic and post head injury sequele. (b) The team was convinced and unanimously agreed that the disease patterns cannot be ascribed to radiation exposure in any of these cases.” Demographic surveys of the two villages nearest to UCIL’s tailings pond at Jaduguda viz., Chatikocha and Dungridih were also conducted during the year 2001-02 by an independent team consisting of Prof. V.K. Singh, Reader – Botany Department, Co-operative College, Jamshedpur and Jamshedpur based medical practitioners viz., Dr. A.B. Bhattamishra, Dr. Indrajit Gorai, Dr. Ashok Prusty, Dr. Y. Pervez. They observed that the general health status of the inhabitants was nothing abnormal. Moreover, no obvious effect of radiation was found in the clinical examinations. A team of UCIL doctors led by Dr. G.K. Iyer, ex-Medical Officer, BARC conducted a health survey recently and did not find villagers suffering from diseases attributable to radiation. For systematic and effective monitoring of radiation levels in and around the mines, mill, tailings pond, a well equipped Health Physics Unit cum Environmental Survey Laboratory of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), which is independent of UCIL, has been in operation. The Scientists of this unit, qualified and trained in the field of radiological safety and protection, regularly measure the radioactivity in the area, maintain constant surveillance on environmental releases and undertake measurements of pollutants in the atmosphere and aquatic systems of the environment in and around Jaduguda. No waste from other parts of the country is brought here for dumping purpose at present.

Uranium Corporation of India Limited is a Public Sector Enterprise under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India. UCIL produces uranium required for Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors and thus plays a very significant role in Nuclear Power Programme of the country. Uranium Corporation of India Ltd., with its headquarter at Jaduguda has been operating five underground mines, one opencast mine and two ore processing plants in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. All these units are located in a geologically significant province – called Singhbhum Thrust Belt, known for its uranium-copper potential. Two more underground uranium mines in this region are under construction by UCIL. In addition, three large uranium mining and processing projects have been planned two of which are in Andhra Pradesh and the one in Meghalaya.

Considering the need of the uranium and its immediate requirement to expand the power generation base, extensive exploration activities with newer techniques are put in place. Quite a few small to medium size low grade uranium deposits have been located in different parts of the country amongst whom mention may be made of Bhima basin in Karnataka and Aravallis in Rajsthan. Exploratory mining is being carried out at Gogi uranium deposit to establish the ore geometry and undertake pilot plant studies to develop the process flowsheet prior to regular mining. Rohili-Ghateswar uranium deposit in Sikar district of Rajsthan is under advanced stage of detailed exploration.

The second mill with the capacity of 3000 tpd at Turamdih is under stabilization. New mines at mohuldih is in the advance stage of construction Production will also start in year or so. In nutshell the pressure on fuel supply will be eased out considerably.

Construction of new projects depends largely on (i) timely land acquisition (ii) Environmental clearance, (iii) Other statutory clearances like grant of mining lease, forestry clearance etc. Maintenance good industrial climate is also an important factor.

After extraction of uranium, the part of the tailings used for back filling in the mines and remaining tailings are impounded in well engineered tailings ponds which are fenced off. All the water/effluent from mines, process plant and tailing ponds is treated in the Effluent Treatment Plant. The part of treated effluent is being re-used in the process plant and the balance is being discharged to the public domain after ensuring threshold limit values of all parameters. The waste rock produced in mines is partly used for filling in the mined out area and remaining waste rocks are disposed in an area especially earmarked for the purpose. The area also fully fenced off.

The total reserves of Uranium in India, both in the indicated and inferred category are of the order of 76,000 tonnes of U3O8 which can feed fuel for 10,000 MWe for 30 years.

A large quantity of Uranium comes from Jaduguda Mine, Bihar. Commercially exploitable Uranium deposits identified, besides Jaduguda are Narwapahar, Bhatin (U-Ni-Mo), Turamdih East, Turamdih West (U-Cu), Mohuldih, Bagjata-I South and Garadih, Singhbhum district (Bihar), Bodal, Rajnandgaon district, Jajwal, Sarguja district, (M.P.). In some of these areas work has already been commenced by Uranium Corporation of India Limited, under Department of Atomic Energy for their exploitation. In addition, commercially viable Uranium deposit has been located recently in Mahadek (cretaceous) sandstone of the Domiasiat area, Meghalaya.

Examples of the types of Uranium deposits and/or occurrence in India.

Phases Of Uranium Exploration

Investigations in the copper lodes of Mosabani, Surds and Roam-Rakha in the Singhbhum area have led to the establishment of plants for recovery of Uranium as a by-product from copper tailings giving additional resources of Uranium. Other sources identified for the possible extraction of Uranium as by-product are monazite found in the coastal and inland places and Mussorie and Mardeora phosphorites of Uttar Pradesh.

Indian Rare Earths Ltd.(IRE) is already operating the mineral sands separation plant at Chavara to produce minerals such as Iimenite, Rutile, Zircon, Sillimanite etc. Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) a Kerala State Government Undertaking is also carrying out the mining of the beach sands minerals and in addition operating a plant to produce Titanium Dioxide. Further, the company is examining the feasibility of exploiting the minerals in Kayamkulam Belt known as Ayiramthengu. IRE is also studying a proposal from the Government of Kerala to establish a Joint Venture to exploit the heavy minerals in the Neendakara area. The requirements of downstream industries in the state of Kerala for production of Titanium Dioxide are already being met from the production by these units. The principle downstream industries in the Kerala State consist of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) plant at Chavara (KMML) and Trivandrum (Titanium Products Ltd.) and Rare Earths Plant at Alwaye (IRE). The existing downstream industries elsewhere in the country are also drawing their requirements of Beach Sand Minerals from IRE. Further, it is proposed to set up production facilities for Titanium sponge. R&D work for this is underway.

An economically viable sandstone type Uranium deposit has been identified in Killung block of Meghalaya having 4800 Te of Uranium Oxide with an average grade of 0.1% U3O8. In the Cuddapah basin in Andhra Pradesh exploration carried out so far has resulted in identification of 3554 E of U3O8 in inferred and indicated category.

The Country's annual Uranium production during the last three years is around two hundred metric tonnes a year satisfying the requirements.

Detailed investigations were carried out over an area of 69 sq.kms. during 1988- 89, and 1062 sq.kms. during January 1990, off Gopalpur Coast, Orissa, in collaboration with Marine Geology Wing of the Geological Survey of India, in near-shore areas. It has been found that the near-shore sandy sediments, at depths of 11 m to 22.5 m isobaths between Gopalpur and Chattarpur, Orissa, contain heavy minerals like Ilmenite, Sillimanite Garnet, Zircon, Rutile, Monazite, Epidote etc.

Uranium mining being carried out by UCIL is not at all hazardous to the people residing nearby to the mines. It is to mention here that the UCIL operations are being regularly monitored by the Health Physics Unit/Environmental Survey Laboratory established by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre(BARC). Similar set-up will also be established at new Uranium project sites. UCIL is committed to maintain the various radiological parameters below the threshold limit values/standards recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection(ICRP) and adopted by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board(AERB), a national regulatory authority. UCIL’s operations are under surveillance of various regulatory authorities such as Director General of Mines Safety(DGMS), State Pollution Control Board(SPCB), Ministry of Environment & Forests(MOEF) and Atomic Energy Regulatory Board(AERB). These surveillances evaluate the effectiveness of control measures, assess the environmental impacts and ensure regulatory compliance. UCIL has drawn a comprehensive Rehabilitaion & Resettlement scheme, which will be implemented in consultation with Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. The salient features of R&R plan is indicated below.

( i) Provision for employment

( ii) Financial benefits

(iii) Housing accommodation for the house oustees

(iv) Compensation for agricultural land losers

(v) Encouragement to increase business opportunities for rural artisan / small traders and self employed persons affected by land acquisition.

( vi) Vocational traing and skill development

(vii) Contract work

(viii) Free education for children around the area under Talent Nurture programme

( ix) Medical facilities

(x) Free land for community and religious gatherings

(xi) Basic amenities like drinking water at resettlement zones