TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu has demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government immediately ban export of iron ore from the State and also release a white paper on iron ore “illegally exported” from here in last six years.
“Karnataka has banned export of iron ore from that State and estimated that 30 million tonnes of it was exported in the last few years. Andhra Pradesh has more iron ore reserves than Karnataka and hence the quantity of ore exported illegally from the State could be much higher...Hence it should be banned,” Mr. Naidu told reporters at the TDP headquarters here on Monday.
While the Congress in Karnataka is fighting against the “mining mafia” and illegal export of mineral wealth, the State government is rolling out a red carpet and encouraging plundering of national wealth by certain elements, he alleged.
“Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is taking decisions against his own ministers’ interests vis-a-vis iron ore export. But the Andhra Pradesh government is unduly favouring them and allowing export of iron ore illegally. As many as 2,000 trucks of iron ore is being exported through the Krishnapatnam port daily. The Congress government here is in a deep slumber,” the TDP chief said.
The government should prove its sincerity and release a white paper on the iron ore exports from the State in the last six years, he demanded.
Referring to iron ore mining in Bayyaram and two other mandals in Khammam district, the Leader of Opposition said the government sought to hand over rich mineral spread over 1.40 lakh acres to the son-in-law of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy though requisite environmental and forest clearances were not granted for mining activity.
The TDP would join the CPI in its fight against illegal mining in Khammam district on August 12, Mr. Naidu said. “We will continue our nation-wide fight against the mining mafia with the support of other parties. We will fight the issue in Parliament as well,” he added.
