The Hindu Business Line : Eco concerns over Jindal project

The Visakhapatnam district unit of the CPI(M) is planning to raise several "crucial" questions over pollution control measures at the public hearing to be held here on November 28 over the proposed alumina smelter by the Jindal group at Sabbavaram village in the district, according to Mr Ch. Narasinga Rao, President of the district unit.

At a press meet here on Tuesday, he said that, prior to the hearing, a report had been released, "concealing many facts".

He said Vimta Labs Ltd had conducted the environmental impact assessment study and prepared the report. He said it would be "the most polluting industry" in the district and it was not clearly stated in the report what mitigation measures would be taken.

RED MUD

"Production of alumina out of bauxite would result in release of red mud. For each tonne of bauxite, 40 per cent of red mud would be released. It is not clear how it would be disposed of," he said.

He expressed apprehension there would be air, water pollution within a radius of 10-20 km in the Sabbavaram mandal and living conditions would become horrible in the surrounding villages.

"The company is promising 4,000 jobs directly and 1,000 or so indirectly. It is not clear how so many jobs will be created in a modern refinery. The manpower plan is not clear," he said.

Mr Narasinga Rao said his party would raise all these questions at the public hearing.

The CPI(M), along with Girijan organisations and NGOs, is carrying on a campaign against bauxite mining in the district, to be undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) to provide raw material to the Jindal smelter.

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