Mining in Vizag may be shelved

July 27: The mining of bauxite in the agency tracts of Visakhapatnam may be shelved. The Araku MP and chairman of public undertakings, Mr V. Kishore Chandra Deo discussed the issue with the UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the opposition from people if the mining activity was started.

“Mrs Gandhi heard me patiently for about 45 minutes and assured that without the approval of the people and without adhering to all the technical and environmental parameters, mining would not be taken up,” Mr Deo told this correspondent from New Delhi on Tuesday.

The MP said tribals have been opposing the mining of bauxite and there was a possibility that after proper scientific study is conducted by the environmental authorities, the permission to mine could be put off permanently.

Mr Deo has been writing several letters to the Union minister of state for environment and forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, the Union Minister for mines, Mr B.K. Handique, for the last three months on people’s opposition to mining.

He has also apprised the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on the issue. Mr Deo reportedly told the mines minister that he felt that public hearings were conducted in a contrived and manipulated manner. They were also conducted under duress, under pressure and by using unethical means, he said. The public hearing did not reflect the actual view of the public, the MP told the minister.

It was earlier reported in this paper that two vice-chairpersons of the Zilla Parishad were allegedly killed by Maoists, who are believed to be against mining of bauxite here.