The Adivasi Students Union (ASU) and the Tudum Debba besides a host of other tribal organisations on Tuesday staged a protest demanding stopping of shooting of a film at the scenic Kuntala waterfall in Neredigonda mandal of Adilabad district. They also protested against the proposal to set up mini-hydel power plants one each on the Kuntala waterfall and a fall near Kupti village.
To launch agitation
A group of Adivasis belonging to these organisations held a meeting at the top of the waterfall in this connection and raised the demand for suspending of the film shooting with the representatives of the film company.
They also resolved to launch an agitation along with the Kuntala Parirakshana Samiti to oppose the setting up of the two power plants.
ASU district president Vedma Bojju and Tudum Debba district president Mesram Sudershan and Kanaka Ambaji Rao and others told newsmen at the picnic spot that the shooting of film could cause sacrilege of their sacred temple located at the waterfall.
They said the power plants would pose several problems to the Adivasis in Neredigonda and Kadem mandals.
The tribal leaders said 5,000 tribal families in 200 villages would be affected by the power plants as 20,000 hectares would be deprived of water.
The plants had no economic value for tribal people as it would neither create employment nor supply electricity to the villages here.
“The power plants will have an impact on the wildlife besides degrading environment.
They will also result in pollution,” Mr. Bojju said.
