The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet will on November 16 discuss the Government Order No.97 and the bauxite mining issue, State HRD Minister G. Srinivasa Rao said here on Thursday.

He was answering questions at a press conference here. The State Government issued the GO on Nov. 5 permitting the AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) to take up bauxite mining in the eastern ghats of Visakhapatnam district, triggering a huge controversy and massive protests.

He said the Government had great concern for the welfare of Girijans and it would respect their feelings. "We don't force it on the Girijans," he said.

He admitted that he himself had fought against bauxite mining proposal in the past and he too is concerned about the welfare and development of the Girijans. Asked why the State Government had issued the GO in spite of the Girijans strongly opposing the bauxite mining proposal, he said that the Centre had cleared the (environmental) proposal in a fast track mode and the GO was issued accordingly and repeated that the Cabinet would discuss whether to go ahead with the GO or not.

Chief Minister’s visit

He conformed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's visit to the city on November 19 during which he would inaugurate the Agarwal Eye Hospital at 4 p.m., a museum set up with the help of the World Telugu Federation atop Kailasagiri at 5 p.m. and the World Congress on disaster management at 6 p.m. Naidu might stay overnight and in that case he would inaugurate a nation-level medical conference on the morning of Nov. 20 and proceed to Kadapa. 

The annual Visakha Utsav would be conducted from December 25 to 27 and the Araku Utsav in the Agency on the same dates.

The Visakha Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) would be made functional from around December 1 with 100 beds and a proposal to involve the PSUs in its development would be discussed during the Nov. 16 Cabinet meeting. 

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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