Bauxite mining: MLC seeks President's intervention

Visakhapatnam: An MLC from Andhra Pradesh has sought intervention of President Pranab Mukherjee and state Governor ESL Narasimhan to stop resumption of bauxite mining in forest land in the district which was recently allowed by the state government.

The government has recently permitted diversion of 1212 hectares of forest land for mining lease in favour of the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC).

"This is in clear violation of the Constitution," said MVS Sarma, an MLC from North Andhra Graduate constituency on Sunday. Sarma said he had written to the President and the Governor in this regard and has sought their help in the sensitive issue as it concerns the livelihood of local tribals.

The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) had issued a letter, dated August 17, 2015, according approval for diversion of forest land for mining. However, the orders issued by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on September 28, 2012 ordering cancellation of mining leases to APMDC are still in force, the MLC claimed.
Meanwhile, a parallel Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) was established by former Congress minister for Tribal Welfare P Balaraju in collaboration with various associations of tribals, and five MLAs of the YSR Congress Party in protest against reported delay by the state government in appointing its TAC.

The TAC would chalk out an action plan within a few days to force the government to cancel permission for bauxite mining in Vizag Agency.

Source: PTI