Cancel order on bauxite mining in Vizag dist: Cong to AP govt

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today demanded that the TDP government should immediately cancel its order of allowing bauxite mining in the district, as it would "affect the livelihood of tribals" and cause "damage to environment".
APCC chief N Raghuveera Reddy, while addressing a press conference here today also said allowing bauxite mining in agency area of the district was an "unconstitutional" move.
The state government recently issued GO 97 (government order) allowing bauxite mining in over 1,212 hectares of forest land in Jerrala village in Chintapalli mandal of the agency area in Visakhapatnam district.
"The TDP government is trying to ruin the livelihood of the girijans (tribals), who are totally dependent on the forest produce. Instead of protecting the tribals, the government is safeguarding the interests of big corporates," Reddy alleged.

He asked how Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu decided to take up mining in the agency area, when he had opposed the same during his term as the Opposition Leader in the erstwhile Congress rule.
"On August 10, 2014 Chandrababu announced that bauxite mining will be started soon. His government wrote four letters to Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), seeking final approval for transfer of forest land for bauxite mining," Reddy said.
"While Naidu is not writing letters to the Centre to seek special status for Andhra Pradesh, he looks very keen on bauxite mining despite protests against it," he alleged.

The Congress is opposed to bauxite mining and will continue its stir till the government cancels its order, the leader warned.