Kurnool: Protests against uranium mine rise\'

KURNOOL: Telangana Praja Samiti president Prof M. Kodandaram, AICC Kisan Congress vice-chairman M. Kodanda Reddy, former legislator Dr Vamsi Krishna and others were arrested at Veldanda near Kalwakurthy on Wednesday when they were on their way into Nallamala to appraise tribal dwellers about the ill-effects of the proposed uranium mining in the forest tracts. Objecting to the arrest, Prof. Kodandaram said, “We have every right to move freely as guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution. We have the right to movement and free speech. Our constitutional rights cannot be taken away by the law enforcement agencies.”

“We are not anti-socials but responsible citizens of the country. Curbing our movement is against the democratic spirit,” he said.

Eversince the Centre had cleared prospecting for uranium mining in Nallamala near the Amrabad area, which hosts a tiger reserve, there had been a surge of public resentment. It is apprehended that the mining, if it is allowed, will ruin the forests and the uranium dust will pollute the Krishna water.