Vishakhapatnam bauxite mining logjam: Tribal JAC seeks withdrawal of GO

After the Left Parties voiced their opposition against proposed bauxite mining in Andhra’s Vishakha Agency area, it is now the leaders of the Tribal Joint Action Committee (JAC) who are up against government’s initiative to unleash the mineral development potential of the state. They have demanded that CM Naidu’s government should back out from bauxite mining and withdraw GO 97.

Speaking at a roundtable here on Friday, former SC and ST Commission Chairman Meruga Nagarjuna said the AP government was unlawfully trying to lease out forest lands on the pretext of mining violating tribal rights.

AP Tribal JAC chairman Merajoth Hanumanth Naik demanded that the government cancel agreements with all multi-national companies.

Jindal South West Aluminium Ltd. belonging to Jindal Group and Anrak Aluminium Ltd are the two companies that have already pumped in huge amount of money for the proposed bauxite mine development. They now await government’s decision on the same as they are being forced to carry huge burden of locked investment.

JAC also warned of agitation if the government allotted forest lands to corporate companies on the pretext of development.