Andhra Pradesh govt urged to cancel bauxite mining agreements

Environmental activists, NGOs and others have urged the Andhra Pradesh Government to cancel the MoUs (memoranda of understanding) signed with two companies — Jindal South-West and Anrak — for supply of bauxite to them through the AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC).

The Union Minister for Tribal Welfare, Kishore Chandra Deo, had emphatically instructed the State Government to cancel bauxite mining leases in the agency area (eastern ghats) of Visakhapatnam district.

Only such a step will instil confidence in the Girijans and other sections that the proposal to mine bauxite through the APMDC and provide it to the two companies has been shelved for good.

The AP Government had signed MoUs with the two companies when the late Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister. Subsequently, public hearings were conducted for setting up alumina smelters at Makavaripalem in Visakhapatnam district and in Vizianagaram district.

Even though there was opposition to the proposals at the public hearings, the State Government went ahead with them. The Union Minister, invoking special powers under the Constitution, instructed the State Government to give up the proposal and cancel mining leases in the area which falls under the Araku (ST) Lok Sabha constituency represented by him.

However, the AP Tribal Welfare Minister, P. Balaraju, who also hails from the area, had remained silent on the issue and only remarked that an appropriate decision will be taken by the Government, following the Union Minister's instructions.

Samata, a Visakhapatnam-based NGO, fighting against bauxite mining, has urged the State Government to honour the instruction given by the Union Minister and take the follow-up steps immediately. It will be in the best democratic traditions.

Several political parties opposing bauxite mining such as the CPI and the CPI(M), and also the Scheduled Tribe Employees’ Association, have hailed the decision of the Union Minister.