Moves for Andhra Pradesh uranium

[UCIL, The Hindu, 9 February] Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) has been given government approval to spent 13.7 crore rupees ($3.1 million) acquiring land at Tummalapalle in the southwestern state of Andhra Pradesh. The project, part of UCIL's "massive expansion" program, could eventually include mining and processing operations at a cost of 1030 crore rupees ($233.6 million). Leaching test have been carried out on a pilot scale and environmental studies initiated at Tumalapalle. In addition, an alkaline leaching study at another prospective development at Gogi in the Gulbarga district of Karnataka has shown that deposit's ore could be processed at Tummalapalle if Gogi proves economic. UCIL is a state-owned enterprise working under the Department of Atomic Energy.