In the backdrop of threats of agitation by anti-uranium mining groups, Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang on Tuesday, while defending the Cabinet’s approval to lease out land for 30 years to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), said the landowners have agreed for the same.

With the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) serving a 15-day ultimatum to the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government, Lapang said landowners in the uranium-rich belt of West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya have even signed an agreement with the UCIL to lease out their land.

“The land will be leased out for 30 years for Rs 1,000 crore ‘pre-project’ developmental works,” said Lapang, adding that he informed that the UCIL would initially invest Rs 209 crore.

He said the pre-project developmental works would include providing better educational institutions, hospitals and roads and other infrastructure to the people of the area.

KSU president Samuel Jyrwa, however, said the pre-project development works of the UCIL is just eyewash as the corporation was laying the foundation for mining of uranium with the help of the state government.

The KSU has warned that if Lapang did not reverse the Cabinet approval for leasing of land to the UCIL it will be forced to launch an agitation.