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Central panels visit fuels tribals fears
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
The recent visit to the proposed bauxite mining areas of Araku Valley and Anantagiri mandals in the district by two members of a fourmember committee appointed by the Union ministry of environment and forests to study the impact of the project has made tribal people worried that the government is attempting to allow bauxite mining ignoring their interests.
According to sources, they visited Rattakonda, Gaalikonda and a few other hilly areas where the AP Mining Development Corporation sought permission for mining of bauxite to be supplied to the proposed Jindal South West Holding Limited’s aluminium refinery at Boddavaram in S Kota mandal in Vizianagaram district.
The committee members would visit the mining areas in November to study the implications of mining, understand the interests of tribals and consult the stakeholders as well.Speaking to Express, convener of Forum for Better Visakha and former Union power secretary EAS Sarma said the Union ministry of mines had suspended the bauxite mining leases last year but the government was trying to revive the leases under the influence of the mining lobby.
He said work on the alumina refinery project of Anrak Aluminium Limited at Rachapalle village in Makavarapalem mandal in the district was going apace. Sarma said land acquisition process started for construction of a captive jetty with minor port status at Rajayyapeta village oin Nakkapalle mandal.
Anrak Aluminium Limited is a joint venture between Ras al-Khaimah and the Penna group and has clearance for bauxite mining through AP Mining Development Corporation. It has obtained environmental clearance but is yet to get forest clearance.
The district has around 550 million tonnes of bauxite reserves.
According to sources, they visited Rattakonda, Gaalikonda and a few other hilly areas where the AP Mining Development Corporation sought permission for mining of bauxite to be supplied to the proposed Jindal South West Holding Limited’s aluminium refinery at Boddavaram in S Kota mandal in Vizianagaram district.
The committee members would visit the mining areas in November to study the implications of mining, understand the interests of tribals and consult the stakeholders as well.Speaking to Express, convener of Forum for Better Visakha and former Union power secretary EAS Sarma said the Union ministry of mines had suspended the bauxite mining leases last year but the government was trying to revive the leases under the influence of the mining lobby.
He said work on the alumina refinery project of Anrak Aluminium Limited at Rachapalle village in Makavarapalem mandal in the district was going apace. Sarma said land acquisition process started for construction of a captive jetty with minor port status at Rajayyapeta village oin Nakkapalle mandal.
Anrak Aluminium Limited is a joint venture between Ras al-Khaimah and the Penna group and has clearance for bauxite mining through AP Mining Development Corporation. It has obtained environmental clearance but is yet to get forest clearance.
The district has around 550 million tonnes of bauxite reserves.
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