Bauxite mining: Tension prevails in Vizag dist over committee visit

The 48-hour bandh in the agency area (tribal tracts in the eastern ghats) of Visakhapatnam district against the visit of a four-member expert committee from the Ministry of Environment and Forests to the proposed bauxite mining areas, was total on Tuesday.

Even bicycles were not allowed on the roads at Chintapalli. The committee, sent with the mandate to examine the pros and cons of bauxite mining, had to stay back in a hotel here. At the hotel also, there were protests.

Trees were cut and placed across the Araku ghat road at Sivalingapuram and near Dumbriguda. A large number of people from 33 villages gathered at Jerrela to confront the committee, if it reached the spot.

The committee, headed by the former Director-General of Forests, Mr J.C. Kala, is scheduled to visit Jerrela and Anantagiri areas where bauxite mining has been proposed. The ore is meant for Anrak Alumina refinery, coming up in Visakhapatnam district, and Jindal South-West's plant near S. Kota in Vizianagaram district.

Dr Kala and other members held a meeting with the District Collector, Mr Lav Agarwal, the Joint Collector, Mr M. Girija Sankar, and other district officials at the hotel. The helipad on the Andhra University ground was kept ready, presumably to take the committee members by air to the agency area. Dr Kala said that he was aware of the issues relating to bauxite mining and prevailing situation. The committee would act with an open mind and take people's views into account.