Nalco comes forward for bauxite mining in Visakha agency

The National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco), a government of India Enterprise and Navaratna Company, has come forward for bauxite mining in the agency area of Visakhapatnam district, along with a plan to set up an aluminium plant. Minister of state for mines Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary announced this news a day or two ago while replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

This news already raises a deep concern as bauxite beehive is likely to be ruptured once again in the agency area. The tribals of Visakha agency are still up in arms against bauxite mining since the last one-and-half decade, when mining agreements were signed with the company of Ras Al Khaima. Later on, the agreements with the company were shelved by the government.

With passing years, several attempts were taken to initiate the mining activity in the same area but failed. A favourable report by the Justice Kala Commission which was set up to study the condition of tribals in the mining area even could not bring solution to the matter.

A few years ago, The Penna group’s Anrak Aluminium Limited had built an alumina refinery at Makavarapalem over 2,300 acres of land, expecting ore from Visakha agency. The company had even inked a deal for securing bauxite ore from Jerrela and other blocks through the AP Mineral Development but later on, all got scrapped by the government.

Nalco, one of the largest integrated bauxite, alumina, aluminium, and power companies with sales turnover of 9,376 crore in the last fiscal year, is also looking forward to the mining in Visakha agency and has been consistently pursuing its proposals to the state and central government for the allocation of blocks.