Shillong, Sep 21 (IANS): Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Monday asked the central government not to proceed with uranium mining in this uranium-rich state.

"As of now, I feel there is no need for the government to proceed with any mining activities as far as uranium is concerned," he told the media here.

Stating that uranium mining must be done by taking the people of the state into confidence, Sangma said: "People must be made to understand well the safety aspect... They (central government) must address the concerns raise by people."

Therefore, Sangma said, engaging with the people and taking them into confidence through a dialogue was a must before starting uranium mining.

He said he had taken up with the central government the presence of uranium on the banks of the Kynshi river, where the government proposed to set up a 450 MW hydroelectric project.

"The areas of uranium deposits which may be submerged due to the development of this hydro electricity project can be taken care of," said the chief minister.