While serious efforts are being made to push through the bauxite mining project in the Visakha Agency, Union minister for rural development Jairam Ramesh said he was against bauxite mining. Ramesh said he was against not only bauxite, but any mining that leads to destruction of natural habitat and livelihood of tribals. Speaking to media persons after attending a function at Hukumpet, 12 km from here, the Union minister said that he would never support bauxite mining.
He said the welfare schemes were not reaching the tribals.