Shillong, Nov 3 (PTI) Noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna today disapproved of government plans to mine uranium in Meghalaya, saying forests were more important than the metal.

"You have substitute for metals, but you don't have substitute for forests," Bahuguna, who is on a visit here to sensitise people on the fragile ecology of the Himalayan region, told reporters.

"Forests are the key to survival. Even if there are diamonds here, I think it should not be mined. You have to decide whether your survival is essential or uranium," he said.