Date:03/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/03/stories/2008100354640400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

NGOs apprehensive on public hearing

Staff Reporter

VISAKHAPATNAM: The public hearing on the controversial bauxite mining project is all set to commence on Friday, amid heavy police bandobust.

Tension is palpable in the area with heavy deployment of police drawn from Visakhapatnam and neighbouring Vizianagaram. Amidst allegation from organisations espousing the cause of tribals that the police had been deployed to keep tribals away from the public hearing, police intensified their patrol, checking buses and other vehicles. According to Human Rights Forum State secretary V.S. Krishna, the scheduled public hearing was a move to give Anrak Company go-ahead for the project.

No proper survey

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for Jerrila bauxite mines divides the mining area into four blocks instead of looking at the entire impact of miningThe NGOs allege that neither gram sabhas were held nor a proper mining survey done and no awareness meetings conducted to educate tribals on the impact of mining.