The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to adopt a cautious approach on the bauxite mining issue and has kept in abeyance the GO permitting bauxite mining in the Eastern Ghats of Visakhapatnam district issued earlier this month.
The decision was taken late on Monday night at the State Cabinet meeting held in Vijayawada, following a public outcry and huge controversy in the wake of the GO issued on November 5. A bandh was observed for a day in the Eastern Ghats of Visakhapatnam district, known locally as the agency area, and there were protests from all the political parties, including many local leaders of the ruling Telugu Desam Party. Maoists active in the area also threatened to oppose the move tooth and nail.
Under the circumstances, the State Government decided to keep the GO in abeyance but many local organisations and political parties are demanding that the GO be scrapped and the Government issue a clear and categorical statement that the move to undertake bauxite mining in the Eastern Ghats of Visakhapatnam district would not be revived.
The AP Government has also decided to set up a state maritime board. The Cabinet has also cleared the Visakhapatnam metro rail project.
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