AP govt. to take relook at bauxite mining issue

The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched an exercise to review a stand on the contentious bauxite mining issue. The MoU signed by the AP Mineral Development Corporation during 2005-07 have been put under abeyance by the UPA-II Government in August 2010 following strong objections raised by then Araku MP V. Kishore Chandra Deo and others against mining in Scheduled Areas in contravention of Constitution. We are exploring various options.” On whether public sector National Aluminium Company would be allowed mining in the Agency tracts, he said they would look into it. Jindal South West Aluminium Ltd. belonging to Jindal Group and Anrak Aluminium Ltd, a consortium formed by Ras Al-Khaimah Investment Authority and Penna Group envisage an investment of over Rs.20,000 crore on aluminium complexes in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. Green activists are strongly opposed to bauxite mining in Schedule V areas stating that it would adversely affect livelihood of tribal people and destroy fragile ecosystem of Eastern Ghats.