Andhra government determined to go ahead with bauxite mining

Despite protests coming in from Girijans living in the Vishakha Agency and political parties in opposition in the state, Andhra Pradesh government seems insistent on going ahead with the bauxite mining projects in the Agency area in Vizag and East Godavari districts.

In a recent development, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests cleared the Jerrela block, which is estimated to have around 224.60 million tons of rich quality bauxite (having 42 per cent to 56 per cent of alumina) in an area spread over 1,162 hectares. AP Mineral Development Corporation, which has been made the nodal agency to take up bauxite mining by the State government, received a letter from MoEF recently. Though a lot of paperwork remains to be completed before APMDC takes up mining on its own or cooperatives of Girijans, this development definitely indicates mining is soon to start in the region.

Last year during the World Tribals Day, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had declared that the rich bauxite reserves here would be exploited. Mining was to commence by June end; but protests from different sections delayed the operations. However, now that the State government has given green signal, things are expected to move in the right direction at a faster pace.