Andhra CM advises against oppn to industrialisation

The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, K Rosaiah has advised the environmentalists not to oppose industrialisation in the state in the name of environmental problems.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Rs 250-crore Srikurmam Mineral Sands Project at Srikakulam on Saturday, he said the government had sanctioned two thermal power plants and one nuclear power plant for Srikakulam district, but the environmentalists were seriously opposing these projects.

The chief minister said, “Without power plants, there is no industrial development. And only from industries the government would get some good revenues, which could be utilised for the welfare of under-privileged sections of society. So if we rise up against power plants, it will indirectly harm the growth of the state.”

Earlier, he inaugurated the Srikurmam Mineral Sands Project, an integrated complex for the extraction and separation of heavy minerals from beach sand. The project, developed by Trimex group, would produce ilmenite, zircon, garnet, sillimanite and rutile.

Koneru Prasad, chairman, Trimex group, said the group would take up expansion works at Srikurmam project immediately by spending another Rs 1,200 crore, with a total investment of Rs 4,000 crore planned for the next 6-7 years.