Experts fault UCIL on uranium report on pollution in Kadapa

Hyderabad: Retired scientists have found fault with Uranium Corporation of India’s report on Kadapa pollution . They alleged that the sampling protocol was not followed while conducting tests in villages.

Former IICT scientist, Babu Rao Kalapala, told TOI: “Regarding the water quality data obtained from sampling groundwater from these monitoring bore wells (Barc has called them monitoring boreholes, MBH), it is very shocking that UCIL and Barc were not even aware of the sampling protocol, and collected samples from the stagnant vertical column of the bore well, using a sampler tied to a rope and lowering it into the bore well, that is not representative of the groundwater condition.” UCIL had said that Barc tests didn’t find any anomalies as alleged by the villagers and retired scientists.

“There are no pumps in the monitoring boreholes, it became evident that the very method of sampling was wrong. It is another matter that these wells have no significance in monitoring as they are not located properly. Barc produced a 35-page compilation of groundwater analysis data without any written part of its observations on the data, and the conclusions are drawn. A mere compilation of data does not qualify it as a study report. Making arbitrary statements like “no discernible change” or “no significant increase” based on faulty data,” alleged Babu Rao.

He said, “When APPCB laid down clear conditions on the lining, UCIL is supposed to obtain modifications to the permission letter by producing their designs based on international standards and convincing the PCB that the proposed designs are superior to the conditions of the permission. They cannot ignore the conditions of APPCB or MoEF. Location of well for sampling and other aspects are ignored.”

Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy has decided to write to UCIL expressing serious concerns. A group of scientists had already taken up the issue alleging that chemical pollution is affecting several villages in Vemula Mandal, particularly near tailing pond of a uranium mine.