We won’t let uranium mining in Nallamala forest: K Chandrasekhar Rao
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday declared in the Assembly that the state government will not allow uranium mining in the Nallamala forests.
While replying to questions in the discussion on the budget, Mr Rao said that the state government has not given any permission for exploration or mining in the Nallamala forest since the formation of Telangana state. He assured that the government will not grant any permission in the future as well.
He said that mining will cause a serious threat to the Nagarjunasagar, Srisailam and Pulichintala projects, the major irrigation projects on Krishna river will get polluted and the irrigated area of two projects will severely affected. He said it will also cause a threat to Hyderabad.
When Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka suggested passing a resolution requesting the Union government not to grant permission for uranium mining in the reserve forest, the CM said that the resolution will be introduced on Monday.
Earlier, making a statement in the Legislative Council on behalf of the state government, municipal administration minister K.T. Rama Rao explained that the subject of uranium mining was under the Union government’s purview.
He said that the Opposition leaders are making irresponsible statements on this sensitive issue. He mentioned that it was the Congress government which gave permissions in 2009 through GO 127 for uranium mining in the Nallamala forest.
He said that the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) is exploring uranium under the present BJP-led union government.
The minister recalled that in 2016, the state forest department had rejected permissions for mining of uranium in the Nallamala forest.
He further said that Mr Rao is a nature-loving person and initiated the Haritha Haram afforestation programme. Such a person could not give any permission for uranium exploration or mining in forests.
He appealed to Opposition leaders to act with responsibility since it is a sensitive issue.
