The Hindu Business Line : NGO wants hearing on Jindal unit postponed

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NGO wants hearing on Jindal unit postponed

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Visakhapatnam May 31 Samata, a voluntary organisation claiming to fight for the rights of Girijans, has appealed to the State Government and the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) to postpone the public hearing on the proposed Jindal alumina refinery at Srungavarapukota in Vizianagaram district on June 4.

In a statement, Samata said that the APPCB had not furnished all the relevant information to the public in the local language, Telugu, so as to obtain an informed opinion.

`NO CLEARANCE'

In the first place, the State Government had not yet obtained the required clearances and permissions for the bauxite mining in the agency tracts of Visakhapatnam district, it added.

Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation, according to the MoU signed with the Jindals, will have to undertake bauxite mining and provide the required raw material to the Jindal alumina refinery.

"It is quite meaningless to conduct the public hearing on the refinery without the clearances for bauxite mining."

The organisation also said that earlier, a public hearing had been conducted here on setting up the refinery at Sabbavaram in Visakhapatnam district in a "highly objectionable manner," without providing the requisite information and not giving an opportunity to the affected people to voice their grievances.

However, the Jindal group had refused to set up the refinery at Sabbavaram, citing high land cost as the reason. "Now, the same drama of public hearing is being re-enacted in Vizianagaram district."

Source of water

According to Samata, one of the major problems with regard to the proposed refinery at Boddavara in S. Kota mandal is that the source of water is not clearly mentioned.

"It is not clear whether the required water will be drawn from Yeleru, Tatipudi or Raiwada reservoirs. The farmlands will be adversely affected and the people in the nearby villages will also suffer on account of the lack of drinking water."

Further, it added, the rapid environment impact assessment report prepared by Vimta Labs should have been translated into Telugu and provided to the local people.

"The locals do not understand the ecological implications and therefore, the public hearing will be an exercise in futility."

The organisation has urged the APPCB to conduct the public hearing in a "proper, democratic manner" after providing the relevant information to the local people in their language.

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