Laterite ‘exposes’ backwardness
By SNV Sudhir
Yerakannapalem (Vizag), Nov 17, 2011: Tribals of eight villages coming under Sarugudu panchayat in Nathavaram mandal are elated a lot these days. And there’s a reason behind their euphoria. Now they say very soon everyone in their village would be able to go to a nearby shandy without much delay as the mining company promised a road connecting them to ‘outside world’.
Thanks to laterite, after knowing its presence in their area everybody is making a beeline to them including officers and mining lobby. All these villages on the hill do not have a pucca road and no vehicle plies through their area. Even in an emergency medical situation they go to a nearest primary health centre in Nathavaram on the other side of the hill by walk. There is a school for these villages but without any proper facilities and no teacher available, which shows official apathy towards development of remote villages in the country.
“All of us are grateful to laterite due to which everybody is coming to us after 65 years of independence. Nobody looked at us until now. For delivery we had to carry our pregnant women on our shoulders for 4 hours to go to a nearby health centre. At times our women died while on the way. Now mining people promised us jobs, roads, schools, hospitals,” Venkataramana of Yerakannapalem told this correspondent. There are around 500 families in these eight villages and the mining company promised them 200 jobs and Rs 1,000 per household until mining goes on, informed a villager.
“Politicians come to us only during elections asking for votes. That’s it after the polls none revisits us. Not even officials. Now this mining company has come we are hopeful of our development which government failed to do all these years,” told Sivaramakrishna, who depends on farming.
Most of the villagers are dependent on farming of paddy and sugarcane which they sell for their living at a nearby market. “They are not aware what a private firm does. They just use and throw. Above all pollution caused by mining would spell doom to the environment. God save them,” said representative of an NGO Samata, G Srinivas.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Locals prefer private firm to govt
Locals prefer private firm to govt
By SNV Sudhir
Yerakannapalem (Vizag), Nov 17, 2011: Public hearing by APPCB on the proposed laterite mining in Yerakannapalem village on Thursday was held amidst divided opinion of the local tribals. While some of them opposed mining raising concerns over losing their livelihood and land, majority opined that mining activity would bring “change” in their lives as they have been deprived of various government schemes since ages.
APPCB held public hearing to elicit opinion of locals on the proposed laterite mining in 121 hectares by one J Lakshman Rao. Once government gives a go ahead nod to mine laterite around 16 villages coming under Sarugudu Panchayat in Narsipatnam mandal would be affected. Hearing was held amidst tight security since the area falls under naxal zone. Tension prevailed for sometime when the team of government officials led by joint collector Girija Shankar was stopped by a group of tribals, who were opposing the mining, by going ahead into the village where the hearing was supposed to be held. After persuasion by the village elders and government officials the team was allowed to conduct the hearing.
“We have been deprived of roads, hospitals and schools since ages. Now the mining company representatives promised us that they would develop our area. Until now no politician, no political party, no government nor an officer approached us asking about our wellbeing. Thanks to laterite now focus is on our villages. That’s the reason we are welcoming mining activity. Those who are opposing are our detractors,” said Satyakumari, a 17 year old girl of Yerakannapalem.
Environtalists, representatives of various NGOs who tried to air their concerns on pollution and rehabilitation issues at the hearing were embarrassed lot as they received stiff resistance from the locals shouting “go back” slogans.
“It’s unfortunate to witness this kind of situation. Mining lobby lured local tribals promising heaven and earth. Innocent tribals don’t know what’s there in the store for them. Mining will have a devastating affect on the environment. They will be ignored and neglected by the same mining company after sometime. What is the guarantee that the company provides all the facilities forever? It’s the job of government to ensure development and welfare of deprived class,” said Forum for Better Visakha, representative SB Rao.
Representative of the lesse J Lakshman Rao, Mr Murali told at public hearing that 20 percent of the profits over mining would be spent on development of the local area and welfare of locals. There was also controversy over the status of mining area. “We have written to the tribal welfare secretary to confirm whether the mining area falls under scheduled area or plain area and expecting reply very soon. Here we have recorded all the proceedings of the public hearing, which will be sent to the ministry of environment and forests for further procedures and permissions,” said joint collector Girija Shankar.
By SNV Sudhir
Yerakannapalem (Vizag), Nov 17, 2011: Public hearing by APPCB on the proposed laterite mining in Yerakannapalem village on Thursday was held amidst divided opinion of the local tribals. While some of them opposed mining raising concerns over losing their livelihood and land, majority opined that mining activity would bring “change” in their lives as they have been deprived of various government schemes since ages.
APPCB held public hearing to elicit opinion of locals on the proposed laterite mining in 121 hectares by one J Lakshman Rao. Once government gives a go ahead nod to mine laterite around 16 villages coming under Sarugudu Panchayat in Narsipatnam mandal would be affected. Hearing was held amidst tight security since the area falls under naxal zone. Tension prevailed for sometime when the team of government officials led by joint collector Girija Shankar was stopped by a group of tribals, who were opposing the mining, by going ahead into the village where the hearing was supposed to be held. After persuasion by the village elders and government officials the team was allowed to conduct the hearing.
“We have been deprived of roads, hospitals and schools since ages. Now the mining company representatives promised us that they would develop our area. Until now no politician, no political party, no government nor an officer approached us asking about our wellbeing. Thanks to laterite now focus is on our villages. That’s the reason we are welcoming mining activity. Those who are opposing are our detractors,” said Satyakumari, a 17 year old girl of Yerakannapalem.
Environtalists, representatives of various NGOs who tried to air their concerns on pollution and rehabilitation issues at the hearing were embarrassed lot as they received stiff resistance from the locals shouting “go back” slogans.
“It’s unfortunate to witness this kind of situation. Mining lobby lured local tribals promising heaven and earth. Innocent tribals don’t know what’s there in the store for them. Mining will have a devastating affect on the environment. They will be ignored and neglected by the same mining company after sometime. What is the guarantee that the company provides all the facilities forever? It’s the job of government to ensure development and welfare of deprived class,” said Forum for Better Visakha, representative SB Rao.
Representative of the lesse J Lakshman Rao, Mr Murali told at public hearing that 20 percent of the profits over mining would be spent on development of the local area and welfare of locals. There was also controversy over the status of mining area. “We have written to the tribal welfare secretary to confirm whether the mining area falls under scheduled area or plain area and expecting reply very soon. Here we have recorded all the proceedings of the public hearing, which will be sent to the ministry of environment and forests for further procedures and permissions,” said joint collector Girija Shankar.
Vizag schools flout fire norms
Vizag schools flout fire norms
DC SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 14, 2011: Most schools in the city flout fire-safety norms and are potential death fire traps in case of a repeat of Kumbakonam tragedy, where 83 school children were killed in a school fire in 2004. GVMC, Fire and district education department officials issued notices to around 100 schools in the city to immediately comply with the fire safety norms or else face action.
After the Kumbakonam accident in Tamil Nadu, the state government had asked all the schools to provide enough emergency exits and ensure that the staircase width should be at least 1.5 metres so that children can be evacuated in the shortest possible time. Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) created a separate special wing to look into issues of compliance of fire safety norms by private schools.
There are around 500 private schools that come under GVMC limits and officials say that more than 300 flout fire norms. “Until now I have inspected around 60 schools and all the schools flout norms. We have immediately issued notices to them. If they don’t take corrective measures even after the notices we will recommend education department to cancel recognition to those schools. And for new schools we are strictly not giving any NOCs unless they comply fire norms,” said U sarath babu who head fire safety wing in GVMC.
As per the national building code for schools two water storage tanks should be provided apart from portable fire extinguishers. Teachers and staff working in schools should be aware of how to use fire extinguishers and the school management should conduct evacuation drills every month or once in two months. “We are conducting periodical checks and raids on the premises of schools. Very soon we are going to cancel recognition of 15 schools on the same issue. They failed to install fire safety equipment even after repeatedly sending notices,” said district education officer Sai Babu.
The state government has asked all schools to keep away inflammable material from their premises and no cooking is allowed in the schools. The district fire officer Narasimham said that their department had also started prosecution in the case of three schools. “We too served notices to more than 70 schools. Some schools have approached courts also. One of the schools immediately installed all the requisite fire safety equipment after we warned them of stern action,” said district fire officer Narasimham.
DC SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 14, 2011: Most schools in the city flout fire-safety norms and are potential death fire traps in case of a repeat of Kumbakonam tragedy, where 83 school children were killed in a school fire in 2004. GVMC, Fire and district education department officials issued notices to around 100 schools in the city to immediately comply with the fire safety norms or else face action.
After the Kumbakonam accident in Tamil Nadu, the state government had asked all the schools to provide enough emergency exits and ensure that the staircase width should be at least 1.5 metres so that children can be evacuated in the shortest possible time. Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) created a separate special wing to look into issues of compliance of fire safety norms by private schools.
There are around 500 private schools that come under GVMC limits and officials say that more than 300 flout fire norms. “Until now I have inspected around 60 schools and all the schools flout norms. We have immediately issued notices to them. If they don’t take corrective measures even after the notices we will recommend education department to cancel recognition to those schools. And for new schools we are strictly not giving any NOCs unless they comply fire norms,” said U sarath babu who head fire safety wing in GVMC.
As per the national building code for schools two water storage tanks should be provided apart from portable fire extinguishers. Teachers and staff working in schools should be aware of how to use fire extinguishers and the school management should conduct evacuation drills every month or once in two months. “We are conducting periodical checks and raids on the premises of schools. Very soon we are going to cancel recognition of 15 schools on the same issue. They failed to install fire safety equipment even after repeatedly sending notices,” said district education officer Sai Babu.
The state government has asked all schools to keep away inflammable material from their premises and no cooking is allowed in the schools. The district fire officer Narasimham said that their department had also started prosecution in the case of three schools. “We too served notices to more than 70 schools. Some schools have approached courts also. One of the schools immediately installed all the requisite fire safety equipment after we warned them of stern action,” said district fire officer Narasimham.
No biometric cards even three years after 26/11
No biometric cards even three years after 26/11
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 10, 2011: Biometric identity cards for fishermen as part of beefing up coastal security have turned out to be a farce. The scheme for issuing biometric identity cards for fishermen in the state has been launched as part of a directive by the Ministry of Home Affairs' to keep vigil along the coasts in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Fisheries department is still sitting on the process of issuing these cards even after three years of deadly Mumbai 26/11 terror attack happened. Three deadlines by the state fisheries department was ignored by the local officials and the result is that no fishermen was issued these cards due to which surveillance teams guarding Vizag coastline are facing it difficult to keep a tab on fishermen.
It is worth to be noted here that 26/11 terrorists have gained entry into Indian territory at Mumbai through sea reportedly in fishing boats and also in the guise of fishermen. Fisheries department identified around 30,000 fishermen along Vizag coastline to issue these cards. Till date, local officials have not provided biometric cards to even a single fisherman, despite several Intelligence warnings of a similar type of attack and east coast being very vulnerable to terror infiltration.
Vizag has been always under terror radar due to presence of Eastern Naval Command head quarters and other strategic security establishments. “We have voluntarily attended the camps conducted by fisheries department several times earlier. Most of the fishermen at Vizag harbour furnished all their details long back. I don’t know why there is a delay in issuing cards,” said AP mechanised fishing boats operators association, president Appa Rao.
Job of issuing bio metric cards was entrusted to fisheries department immediately after 26/11 terror attack that happened in 2008. State office set a deadline of August in 2009 to finish the process and issue cards. Later deadline was extended to October but and then the whole year 2010 passed not even a single card was issued.
“I agree there are some gaps and that’s because of logistics problem. We have identified 30,000 fishermen along the Vizag coastline to issue these cards. But until now we could collect details like photos, signatures and finger prints of only about 24,000 fishermen. Cards would be immediately issued after details of the remaining fishermen are collected which will be done very soon,” said fisheries department assistant director Swarna Kumari. “Sometimes we see some unknown faces in deep sea when we go out for fishing. Cards would definitely help identifying local fishermen and restrict outsiders. Sometimes outsiders may pose threat” said a fishermen requesting anonymity.
The Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies such as the marine police are to be given card readers that can read these biometric cards. “These biometric cards would definitely help us in identifying who are local fishermen. I don’t know why there is a delay in issuing these cards,” said Marine CI at Rushikonda Appa Rao.
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 10, 2011: Biometric identity cards for fishermen as part of beefing up coastal security have turned out to be a farce. The scheme for issuing biometric identity cards for fishermen in the state has been launched as part of a directive by the Ministry of Home Affairs' to keep vigil along the coasts in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008.
Fisheries department is still sitting on the process of issuing these cards even after three years of deadly Mumbai 26/11 terror attack happened. Three deadlines by the state fisheries department was ignored by the local officials and the result is that no fishermen was issued these cards due to which surveillance teams guarding Vizag coastline are facing it difficult to keep a tab on fishermen.
It is worth to be noted here that 26/11 terrorists have gained entry into Indian territory at Mumbai through sea reportedly in fishing boats and also in the guise of fishermen. Fisheries department identified around 30,000 fishermen along Vizag coastline to issue these cards. Till date, local officials have not provided biometric cards to even a single fisherman, despite several Intelligence warnings of a similar type of attack and east coast being very vulnerable to terror infiltration.
Vizag has been always under terror radar due to presence of Eastern Naval Command head quarters and other strategic security establishments. “We have voluntarily attended the camps conducted by fisheries department several times earlier. Most of the fishermen at Vizag harbour furnished all their details long back. I don’t know why there is a delay in issuing cards,” said AP mechanised fishing boats operators association, president Appa Rao.
Job of issuing bio metric cards was entrusted to fisheries department immediately after 26/11 terror attack that happened in 2008. State office set a deadline of August in 2009 to finish the process and issue cards. Later deadline was extended to October but and then the whole year 2010 passed not even a single card was issued.
“I agree there are some gaps and that’s because of logistics problem. We have identified 30,000 fishermen along the Vizag coastline to issue these cards. But until now we could collect details like photos, signatures and finger prints of only about 24,000 fishermen. Cards would be immediately issued after details of the remaining fishermen are collected which will be done very soon,” said fisheries department assistant director Swarna Kumari. “Sometimes we see some unknown faces in deep sea when we go out for fishing. Cards would definitely help identifying local fishermen and restrict outsiders. Sometimes outsiders may pose threat” said a fishermen requesting anonymity.
The Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies such as the marine police are to be given card readers that can read these biometric cards. “These biometric cards would definitely help us in identifying who are local fishermen. I don’t know why there is a delay in issuing these cards,” said Marine CI at Rushikonda Appa Rao.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Enter e-waste, insert curse
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam , Oct. 13: The Information Technology revolution has brought many blessings and one major curse—burgeoning e-waste. Electronic devices such as computers, servers, mainframes, monitors, TVs and telecommunication devices are dumped by most users once they go out of fashion. The piling up of e-waste has become alarming in India too.
The country generates about 1.5 lakh tonnes of e-waste annually and almost all of it finds its way into the informal sector, as there is no organised system to dispose of it. Metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, which have a large IT sector, are at higher risk of environmental pollution from e-waste.
According to the study conducted by the NGO, Toxic Link, Mumbai faces grave health and environmental risks because of the dumping of 19,000 tonnes of e-waste. Similarly, a study by the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute of Kolkata found that people in Delhi are about twice as likely to suffer from lung ailments because of the presence of high amount of e-waste. Bangalore generates 15,000 tonnes of e-waste every month.
But the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has put it at 10,000 tonnes a month. Many components of obsolete electronic equipment are considered toxic and are not biodegradable. If treated properly, e-waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However, if not treated properly, it becomes a major source of toxins and carcinogens.
Hazardous substances found in e-waste include lead, cadmium, chromium and flame-retardant plastics. Inhaling or handling such substances or being in contact with them on a regular basis can damage the brain, nervous system, lungs, kidneys and the reproductive system. "It is estimated that around two million obsolete computers are dumped by government offices, business houses, industries and households," says Prof Srinivas of Gitam University. "Manufacturers also produce around 1,200 tonnes of electronic scrap."
Personal computers get obsolete once in two years and consumers think it convenient to buy a new computer rather than upgrade the old one. Because of the lack of rules on treatment of e-waste, these PCs mostly end up in landfills or are partly recycled in unhygienic conditions or thrown into waste streams. A study conducted by Gitam University students found that huge quantities of PC scrap is exported by foreign countries in the form of reusable components. This is estimated to touch 50,000 tonnes a year.
"e-waste is a rapidly growing environmental problem in the world and India," said Prof Srinivas. "India has to handle not only waste generated domestically but also e-waste which is dumped by developed countries." Environmental organisations have warned that India would have to handle about eight lakh tonnes of e-waste by 2012, unless it wakes up and devises concrete ways to tackle the menace.
Students show the right way
A project to tackle e-waste conceived by students of Gitam University gained applause at the Students in Free Enterprise’s (SIEF) meet which was held recently at Mumbai. SIEF has a presence in more than 40 countries across the globe and its approval has inspired the students. “India’s lack of safe e-waste-disposal mechanism is growing to a crisis situation,” says Satyanarayana, a B-Tech student of Gitam University. “There is an urgent need to deal with e-waste, which is posing a major threat to environment and public heath.” The project planned by the students focuses on educating the general population. Meanwhile, a local steel unit, Vizag Profiles, has signed a MoU with the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Gitam University to start an e-waste-recycling unit.
Visakhapatnam , Oct. 13: The Information Technology revolution has brought many blessings and one major curse—burgeoning e-waste. Electronic devices such as computers, servers, mainframes, monitors, TVs and telecommunication devices are dumped by most users once they go out of fashion. The piling up of e-waste has become alarming in India too.
The country generates about 1.5 lakh tonnes of e-waste annually and almost all of it finds its way into the informal sector, as there is no organised system to dispose of it. Metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, which have a large IT sector, are at higher risk of environmental pollution from e-waste.
According to the study conducted by the NGO, Toxic Link, Mumbai faces grave health and environmental risks because of the dumping of 19,000 tonnes of e-waste. Similarly, a study by the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute of Kolkata found that people in Delhi are about twice as likely to suffer from lung ailments because of the presence of high amount of e-waste. Bangalore generates 15,000 tonnes of e-waste every month.
But the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has put it at 10,000 tonnes a month. Many components of obsolete electronic equipment are considered toxic and are not biodegradable. If treated properly, e-waste is a valuable source for secondary raw materials. However, if not treated properly, it becomes a major source of toxins and carcinogens.
Hazardous substances found in e-waste include lead, cadmium, chromium and flame-retardant plastics. Inhaling or handling such substances or being in contact with them on a regular basis can damage the brain, nervous system, lungs, kidneys and the reproductive system. "It is estimated that around two million obsolete computers are dumped by government offices, business houses, industries and households," says Prof Srinivas of Gitam University. "Manufacturers also produce around 1,200 tonnes of electronic scrap."
Personal computers get obsolete once in two years and consumers think it convenient to buy a new computer rather than upgrade the old one. Because of the lack of rules on treatment of e-waste, these PCs mostly end up in landfills or are partly recycled in unhygienic conditions or thrown into waste streams. A study conducted by Gitam University students found that huge quantities of PC scrap is exported by foreign countries in the form of reusable components. This is estimated to touch 50,000 tonnes a year.
"e-waste is a rapidly growing environmental problem in the world and India," said Prof Srinivas. "India has to handle not only waste generated domestically but also e-waste which is dumped by developed countries." Environmental organisations have warned that India would have to handle about eight lakh tonnes of e-waste by 2012, unless it wakes up and devises concrete ways to tackle the menace.
Students show the right way
A project to tackle e-waste conceived by students of Gitam University gained applause at the Students in Free Enterprise’s (SIEF) meet which was held recently at Mumbai. SIEF has a presence in more than 40 countries across the globe and its approval has inspired the students. “India’s lack of safe e-waste-disposal mechanism is growing to a crisis situation,” says Satyanarayana, a B-Tech student of Gitam University. “There is an urgent need to deal with e-waste, which is posing a major threat to environment and public heath.” The project planned by the students focuses on educating the general population. Meanwhile, a local steel unit, Vizag Profiles, has signed a MoU with the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Gitam University to start an e-waste-recycling unit.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Hearing unites opposition parties
By SNV Sudhir
Chintapalli (Vizag Agency), Oct 3: The public hearing on the environmental aspects of bauxite mining held here on Friday, proved too costly to the state government as it gave an opportunity to all the opposition parties and NGOs to come on to a single platform. Until now opposition parties were conducting their protest programmes individually. But immediately after coming out of the venue of the public hearing they all held a ‘Praja Court’ and vowed to stop the mining process collectively. They also passed two resolutions on the spot one demanding the state government to declare the just held public hearing null and void and to cancel the two MoUs signed by the state government with Jindals and Anrak. All the parties are eying the Vizag Agency areas as Araku will have one assembly and one parliamentary seat besides already existing Paderu assembly seat after the de limitation process. All the parties were trying to gain hold on the Agency areas and the bauxite mining issue came in handy for them.
CPM’s Bhadhrachalam MP Midiam Babu Rao, who is also the member of the parliament consultative committee on environment and forests, said that he would take up the issue of the way public hearing was held with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). CPM district secretary Ch Narasinga Rao said that they would send their observations with the video clippings about the public hearing to the Supreme Court Enforcement Authority.
“Police created a sort of fear among the public about the hearing. Many of them did not attend it. And who all came to attend the public hearing unanimously opposed the mining and boycotted the meeting. Hereafter we all irrespective of the political party we belong work together to oppose mining,” said CPI district secretary, JV Satyanaryana Murthy. TD district unit president Bandaru Satyanrayana Murthy said that their party when they were in power dropped the idea of mining bauxite after the stiff opposition from the local tribals giving importance to their sentiments. He said that the present Congress government was not at all in a position to listen to the woes of the tribals and going ahead with the project. Srinivas, belonging to Samata, an NGO which was opposing the bauxite mining, said that the apart from the tribals throwed out of their homes mining would also have an adverse impact upon the surrounding environment and water resources. All party leaders later held a huge public meeting in the town.
Chintapalli (Vizag Agency), Oct 3: The public hearing on the environmental aspects of bauxite mining held here on Friday, proved too costly to the state government as it gave an opportunity to all the opposition parties and NGOs to come on to a single platform. Until now opposition parties were conducting their protest programmes individually. But immediately after coming out of the venue of the public hearing they all held a ‘Praja Court’ and vowed to stop the mining process collectively. They also passed two resolutions on the spot one demanding the state government to declare the just held public hearing null and void and to cancel the two MoUs signed by the state government with Jindals and Anrak. All the parties are eying the Vizag Agency areas as Araku will have one assembly and one parliamentary seat besides already existing Paderu assembly seat after the de limitation process. All the parties were trying to gain hold on the Agency areas and the bauxite mining issue came in handy for them.
CPM’s Bhadhrachalam MP Midiam Babu Rao, who is also the member of the parliament consultative committee on environment and forests, said that he would take up the issue of the way public hearing was held with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). CPM district secretary Ch Narasinga Rao said that they would send their observations with the video clippings about the public hearing to the Supreme Court Enforcement Authority.
“Police created a sort of fear among the public about the hearing. Many of them did not attend it. And who all came to attend the public hearing unanimously opposed the mining and boycotted the meeting. Hereafter we all irrespective of the political party we belong work together to oppose mining,” said CPI district secretary, JV Satyanaryana Murthy. TD district unit president Bandaru Satyanrayana Murthy said that their party when they were in power dropped the idea of mining bauxite after the stiff opposition from the local tribals giving importance to their sentiments. He said that the present Congress government was not at all in a position to listen to the woes of the tribals and going ahead with the project. Srinivas, belonging to Samata, an NGO which was opposing the bauxite mining, said that the apart from the tribals throwed out of their homes mining would also have an adverse impact upon the surrounding environment and water resources. All party leaders later held a huge public meeting in the town.
Tribals boycott public hearing on Bauxite mining
By SNV Sudhir
Chintapalli (Vizag Agency), Oct 3: Tribals gave an unexpected jolt to the State by boycotting the public hearing held on Bauxite mining here on Friday. It was also shock to the police who laid a seize to the entire agency area and banned the vehicle movement days in advance, riding the Maoist threat.
The confused officials had to go ahead with their programme without a single person to hear them. The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) intended to hold the public hearing on the environmental aspects of the proposed bauxite mining by the State owned Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) in four blocks of Jerella reserve forest area, coming under GK Veedhi Agency mandal. The bauxite mined by the APMDC would be supplied to Anrak aluminum, a UAE based firm which would setup its alumina refinery at Makavarapalem in Narsipatnam division. The state government earlier entered into a MoU with the Anrak in this regard.
In a highly guarded affair, the officials of APMDC and APPCB started the hearing process amidst slogans from the tribals drawn from the surrounding villages. However tribals from the actual mining effected villages, which are 40kms away from the hearing site, didn’t attend as the police suspended passenger bus services to those villages. It is learnt that the villagers who were feared of heavy deployment of armed police preferred to stay indoors. And some of them who came all the way on foot from those villages boycotted the hearing and aired slogans against the mining.
The hearing process started half an hour late due to the protests and slogans raised by the tribals asking the authorities to withdraw their decision to mine bauxite in Agency areas, which would render thousands of them shelter less and other environmental related problems. Officials were not given any chance to begin the hearing. Later after half an hour the APPCB environmental engineer Satyanrayana Murthy began the procedure. The APMDC MD, Rajagopal tried to explain the advantages of the mining. But there were no audience to listen to him except few scribes. All the tribals who entered the premises left without showing any interest in the MD’s speech. Interestingly the APMDC and APPCB officials went on explaining about mining addressing an empty ground. Tribals said that they were not interested in taking part in the public hearing, as none of them wanted it. Terming the mining as demon, tribals said that they were also ready to face death to stop the mining process. APPCB EE, Murthy said that they have received around 1,571 written representations of which 1,500 belonged to various tribal associations, MLAs, political parties, NGOs. He said they would send the representations, minutes of the public hearing, series of incidents occurred to the ministry of environment and forests for the permission to mine bauxite.
“We would send the minutes and actual incidents happened here to the MoEF,” said the district joint collector, M Veerabrahmaiah who chaired the meeting. Bhadhrachalam MP, Midiam Babu Rao, CPI and CPM district secretaries, JV Satyanrayana Murthy, Ch Narasinga Rao, TD rural unit president and its MLA, Bandaru Satyanrayan Murthy, Chengala Venkat Rao and G Srinivas of Samata led the tribals.
Chintapalli (Vizag Agency), Oct 3: Tribals gave an unexpected jolt to the State by boycotting the public hearing held on Bauxite mining here on Friday. It was also shock to the police who laid a seize to the entire agency area and banned the vehicle movement days in advance, riding the Maoist threat.
The confused officials had to go ahead with their programme without a single person to hear them. The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) intended to hold the public hearing on the environmental aspects of the proposed bauxite mining by the State owned Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) in four blocks of Jerella reserve forest area, coming under GK Veedhi Agency mandal. The bauxite mined by the APMDC would be supplied to Anrak aluminum, a UAE based firm which would setup its alumina refinery at Makavarapalem in Narsipatnam division. The state government earlier entered into a MoU with the Anrak in this regard.
In a highly guarded affair, the officials of APMDC and APPCB started the hearing process amidst slogans from the tribals drawn from the surrounding villages. However tribals from the actual mining effected villages, which are 40kms away from the hearing site, didn’t attend as the police suspended passenger bus services to those villages. It is learnt that the villagers who were feared of heavy deployment of armed police preferred to stay indoors. And some of them who came all the way on foot from those villages boycotted the hearing and aired slogans against the mining.
The hearing process started half an hour late due to the protests and slogans raised by the tribals asking the authorities to withdraw their decision to mine bauxite in Agency areas, which would render thousands of them shelter less and other environmental related problems. Officials were not given any chance to begin the hearing. Later after half an hour the APPCB environmental engineer Satyanrayana Murthy began the procedure. The APMDC MD, Rajagopal tried to explain the advantages of the mining. But there were no audience to listen to him except few scribes. All the tribals who entered the premises left without showing any interest in the MD’s speech. Interestingly the APMDC and APPCB officials went on explaining about mining addressing an empty ground. Tribals said that they were not interested in taking part in the public hearing, as none of them wanted it. Terming the mining as demon, tribals said that they were also ready to face death to stop the mining process. APPCB EE, Murthy said that they have received around 1,571 written representations of which 1,500 belonged to various tribal associations, MLAs, political parties, NGOs. He said they would send the representations, minutes of the public hearing, series of incidents occurred to the ministry of environment and forests for the permission to mine bauxite.
“We would send the minutes and actual incidents happened here to the MoEF,” said the district joint collector, M Veerabrahmaiah who chaired the meeting. Bhadhrachalam MP, Midiam Babu Rao, CPI and CPM district secretaries, JV Satyanrayana Murthy, Ch Narasinga Rao, TD rural unit president and its MLA, Bandaru Satyanrayan Murthy, Chengala Venkat Rao and G Srinivas of Samata led the tribals.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)