The Hindu Business Line : NGOs’ plea to shelve plan for alumina refineries

Visakhapatnam, Sept. 26 The Andhra Pradesh Government should immediately shelve two projects – alumina refineries proposed to be set up in Vizianagaram district by the Jindal group and inVisakhapatnam district by a Gulf company – and also the proposal to undertake bauxite mining in the agency (tribal) area of Visakhapatnam district through the AP Mineral Development Corporation to provide bauxite to the refineries, said Mr R. Ravi, Executive Director of Samata, a social justice organisation.

Film screening

Several other NGOs, activists and political leaders voiced the same opinion at a seminar organised here on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, a film was also screened to sensitise the audience about the ill-effects of bauxite mining.

The film, Mohua Memoirs, was produced by Equations and Grassroots Media (Bangalore) to depict the misery caused due to mining projects in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.

The NGOs intend to screen it in several parts of the north-coastal districts to educate people and to counter the campaign by the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporate Ltd.

The latter is planning to produce and screen a film showing the benefits of bauxite mining.

Water Contamination

Mr Ravi, spearheading the agitation against bauxite mining, said it would be disastrous for the north-coastal districts if the projects were allowed.

The water sources – rivers and rivulets originating in the eastern ghats – would be contaminated and the lives of tribals residing in the area would be thrown into complete disarray.

He said the State Government should respect the public opinion as 98 per cent of the people at the public hearing organised in the Vizianagaram district opposed the proposed alumina refinery by the Jindal group.

There was mounting opposition to the proposed refinery by the Gulf company in the vicinity of Makavarapalem in Visakhapatnam district as well.

He appealed to the State Government to give up the proposals and take up other projects beneficial to the public.

“These projects spell unmitigated disaster to the Girijans in the hills as well as the people in the plains. They should be shelved,” he added.

More Stories on : Environment | New Projects | Minerals | Andhra Pradesh

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