Date:28/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012850960800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Jindal mining project a social problem’

Correspondent

VIZIANAGARAM: The Left parties, the Lok Satta and other organisations, at the round table meeting organised by the CPI (ML-New Democracy) at Amar Bhavan here on Sunday, called upon people to view the environmental hazard on account of Jindal Alumina in S. Kota mandal in the district as a social problem rather than considering it as a problem of the displaced farmers.

State CPI (ML-New Democracy) leader P. Prasad said mining of bauxite would pose a serious threat to rivers originating from the Eastern Ghats.

The Gosthani and the Champavathi would go dry over the years and also pollute the drinking water sources like Thatipudi, Raiwada and Chilakalagedda.

In spite of all the environmental problems, the royalty the government paid per tonne of bauxite mined was only Rs. 60, Mr. Prasad said.

In violation

CPI district secretary P. Kameswara Rao said that allowing mining in scheduled area was a violation of the 1/70 Act and also the apex court orders.