People's organisations and environmental protection groups welcomed the decision of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests not to allow the bauxite mining project, proposed by the Vedanta group subsidiary Sterlite Industries India and the Orissa Mining Corporation.
They demanded the cancellation of all permits for mining in the Eastern Ghats. It is a most welcome development since bauxite mining was proposed in the catchment area of the Vamsadhara in Orissa.
It has been observed that large scale mining activity taken up on the Eastern Ghats in Orissa had resulted in a steep rise in temperatures in the State.
Before such development takes place in their States, the respective governments in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu must wake up and stop the environment from being damaged further, said J.V. Ratnam of the 100 Months Climate Protection Committee and State convenor of National Alliance of People's Movements.
