Deccan Chronicle
Govt face oppisition from locals in Vizag bauxite
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
Police and district officials are worried about local tribals in the Vizag Agency, ahead of the proposed three day visit of first time legislators to the Vizag agency tracts.
A total of 136 MLAs elected for the first time are scheduled to visit Araku and Ananthagiri Agency mandals between January 9 and 11 to study issues related to tribals, their development, living standards, environment, forest products and also mining.
Local tribals who are against the Centre’s initiative for bauxite mining vehemently oppose this visit.
They see a larger conspiracy behind the visit and have vowed not to allow them to enter their tracts. A high level team appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to study bauxite mining effects in Agency areas was forced to do a aerial survey instead of taking a land route, fearing tribals’ ire. They were ready with bows and arrows to face the Central team in December.
“In the guise of a study tour, these MLAs will come here and say that tribals are away from development, and developmental activities like bauxite mining will bring a change in our lives. We don’t need their opinions,” former MLA and Girijana Samakhya vice president G. Demudu told this correspondent.
Tribals held a public meeting on Tuesday in Jerella in GK Veedhi mandal and passed a unanimous resolution opposing the MLAs’ visit.
They stated they would allow the MLAs only after the tribal welfare minister, P Balaraju, who is also chairman of the state tribal advisory committee, passes a resolution opposing bauxite mining.
Arrangements are in full swing for the visit. Mr Balaraju held several rounds of review meetings with district officials. Security is also beefed up as the areas the MLAs are going to tour are flush with Maoists. Police forces have already started frisking in the agency areas with metal detectors and dog squads.
If necessary, an aerial survey would also be taken up to intensify security measures.
“Around six companies of CRPF forces will be deployed during the MLAs visit. Besides, 10,000 police personnel will also be engaged in the area along with hundreds of circle inspectors and sub-Inspectors,” said Paderu ASP A.R. Damodar.
A total of 136 MLAs elected for the first time are scheduled to visit Araku and Ananthagiri Agency mandals between January 9 and 11 to study issues related to tribals, their development, living standards, environment, forest products and also mining.
Local tribals who are against the Centre’s initiative for bauxite mining vehemently oppose this visit.
They see a larger conspiracy behind the visit and have vowed not to allow them to enter their tracts. A high level team appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to study bauxite mining effects in Agency areas was forced to do a aerial survey instead of taking a land route, fearing tribals’ ire. They were ready with bows and arrows to face the Central team in December.
“In the guise of a study tour, these MLAs will come here and say that tribals are away from development, and developmental activities like bauxite mining will bring a change in our lives. We don’t need their opinions,” former MLA and Girijana Samakhya vice president G. Demudu told this correspondent.
Tribals held a public meeting on Tuesday in Jerella in GK Veedhi mandal and passed a unanimous resolution opposing the MLAs’ visit.
They stated they would allow the MLAs only after the tribal welfare minister, P Balaraju, who is also chairman of the state tribal advisory committee, passes a resolution opposing bauxite mining.
Arrangements are in full swing for the visit. Mr Balaraju held several rounds of review meetings with district officials. Security is also beefed up as the areas the MLAs are going to tour are flush with Maoists. Police forces have already started frisking in the agency areas with metal detectors and dog squads.
If necessary, an aerial survey would also be taken up to intensify security measures.
“Around six companies of CRPF forces will be deployed during the MLAs visit. Besides, 10,000 police personnel will also be engaged in the area along with hundreds of circle inspectors and sub-Inspectors,” said Paderu ASP A.R. Damodar.
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