Date:04/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/04/stories/2008100457220300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

‘Tap resources to foster development’

Staff Reporter

Mining will be taken up on barren hills, says APMDC Managing Director

He supports mass movement on the lines of the “Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku” agitation
ICFRE recommends anti-pollution measures

CHINTAPALLI: Andhra Pradesh has vast mineral resources and they need to be tapped to foster the development of the State and the nation, AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) MD Rajgopal has said.

At a meeting convened to elicit the views of the tribals affected by the bauxite mining project, he extolled its benefits.

The production of aluminium, which is obtained by the refining of bauxite, in India was a mere three per cent of the total world production. Mining would be taken up on barren hills.

Mr. Rajgopal even advocated a mass movement on the lines of the “Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku” agitation that contributed to the establishment of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, for achieving the bauxite project. He said it was unfortunate that some persons were opposing the bauxite project though it does not produce any adverse environmental impact or harm the local people.

Rehabilitation

He said that thousands of rupees were being spent on rehabilitation of the tribals who would be affected by the project.

Pucca houses and cattle sheds would also be constructed and 25 per cent of the royalty obtained on the mining lease would be spent on development of local areas. He ruled out the possibility of contamination of water resources and tried to allay the fears of tribals saying: “APMDC is a Government organisation and you needn’t have any apprehensions”.

A scientist from the Indian Council of Forest Research and Education (ICFRE) Rama Rao claimed that a study had revealed that there would be no sound or water pollution due to mining.

He, however, said that the Council had recommended certain anti-pollution measures like filtration of wastes.

Apprehensions

N.A.V. Prasada Reddy of Andhra University, the lone speaker at the public hearing, expressed apprehensions at the environmental hazards during transport of the ore. He suggested closed conveyor system to overcome it and sought involvement of voluntary organisations like Vana Samrakshana Samithis and indigenous refining of the ore.

Mr. Rajgopal said that many new systems have come up to overcome environmental pollution problems. He said that already 200 tribals were already trained at the Mangampeta mine to make them ‘employable’. He also said that refining would be done locally.

Joint Collector M. Veerabrahmaiah presided.