Politicians avoid exploring "uranium" in Sarangarh

It is strange why every politician in Sarangarh avoids discussing precious mineral uranium. Mere reference to it is capable of creating unrest among people, thereby ruining their political fortunes.

Sarangarh is the only assembly constituency in the mineral-rich Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh that does not have any corporate activity. The only valuable mineral, reportedly found in Dongripali area of Baramkela block on the border of Odisha, is lying unexplored though the existence of the reserve is not proven.

According to district officials, some 15 years ago, the officials from the atomic mineral division had camped in the area for three years and collected the samples that indicated the presence of radioactive substance in the region.

However, the report of deposit and other details were not revealed to the local authorities that suspect presence of uranium in the area.

The team left; dismantling the structures that it had set up for survey. In a few villages thereafter, the reports of deformation in the body started coming in.

"We don't know whether it was a rumour or it was correct, but there was fear that radioactive emission in the pocket during sample collection had affected the villagers," Bheema Behra of Kokbahal village-about 120 km from the district headquarters of Raigarh-told Business Standard.

"The cases of tuberculosis, cancer were reported in a few villages as the medical prescription underlined it," Pervesh Mishra, a radiologist by profession and eminent social activist in the region, said. The number of cases of such diseases was proportionately high as compared to other parts of Sarangarh, Mishra added.

There is a fear that if the deposit has been explored, people will have to leave the place, he added. The theory had prevented the politicians to keep the issue of uranium untouched. The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress candidates are avoiding talking on the issue."There are reports of huge uranium report but we avoid talking as people may not take it in a positive way," Ghanshyam Manhar, husband of Congress candidate and sitting MLA Padma, said.

In all, 56 villages had been identified that could face displacement. Since the number of voters is large, no candidate will dare to commit taking up exploration of uranium and change the social economic condition of the pocket that comes under dense Naxal-infested zone on Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. There is a mutual understanding between the candidates that no one will take up the issue of uranium.

A political observer in the constituency quipped, if one want to damage the opponent, just communicate that his party's government would explore the precious uranium if comes to power.