The Hindu Business Line : NGO opposes Kadapa uranium mining plan

The public hearing conducted in Kadapa on Sunday over the proposed uranium mining in the district "is nothing more than a farce, as the environment impact assessment is flawed and full of jargon incomprehensible even to the educated, let alone the common man," according to Mr Ravi Rebbapragada and Mr Sridhar, of the NGO, mines, minerals & People (mm&P).

In a press release issued here on Sunday, the activists said "a public hearing based on irrelevant pronouncements is a mere formality and cannot be construed as obtaining the consent of people in a democratic manner."

Nearly a million tonnes of waste would have to be disposed off every year and "the design of the tailing pond is incremental, which can be disastrous." The initial design (12 metres) will probably be exhausted in five years or so and "each increment increases the risk of breach and the consequent damage, as in the Nalco ash pond breach in 2001".

In such an eventuality, the Chitravati river would be affected. "There is no data on the crucial point and no attempt to address the problem," they said.

The two activists also questioned the need for taking up such mining in a densely populated area in the Kadapa district. "The Tummaplapalli Uranium Project will be in one of the densely inhabited regions, compared to the existing and proposed uranium mines in India and a deeper (and proper) inquiry into the environmental impact is called for," they said in the press release.

According to them, over 1.2 lakh people in the region would be affected and they should not be exposed to radiation and other risks. They appealed to the Government to get the EIA done again, taking into account these aspects.

More Stories on : Mining & Quarrying | Environment | Andhra Pradesh

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page