Opposition parties have, in one voice, opposed the ongoing exploration for uranium in Andhra Pradesh, and demanded that the YSRCP government pass a resolution in the Assembly making it clear that it will not support mining for the mineral in the State.
At a roundtable on ‘Uranium Mining - Disaster’ organised by the A.P. State Council of the CPI here on Sunday, a resolution was unanimously passed seeking Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s categorical assurance in this regard on the Floor of the House, on the lines of the promise made by his counterpart K. Chandrasekhara Rao in Telangana.
Representatives of the Left parties, the TDP, the Congress, the Jana Sena Party, the Aam Admi Party, and a few others from Telangana participated. Experts and victims of uranium mining were present.
The roundtable also resolved to visit the areas where the activity was taken up on October 6 and 7, besides mounting pressure on the government on the issue.
The meeting gave an impetus to the ‘Save Nallamala’ campaign, which was going viral on the social media.
Visit to Allagadda
CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said uranium mining at Thummalapalli village was under way. In the name of drilling bores, exploration activity was being carried out at Allagadda in Kurnool district, he said.
“All political parties, organisations and experts will visit Allagadda on October 6 and Pulivendula on October 7,” Mr. Ramakrishna said, and added that the Telangana government had already passed a resolution in its Assembly against mining in the Nallamala, and it was important for parties of both States to fight together.
‘People worried’
Former Minister and TDP leader Bhuma Akhila Priya said people of Allagadda were a worried lot over the ongoing drilling works taken up as a part of uranium exploration.
“It is high time that all political parties came together and saved people from the ill-effects of uranium mining,” she said.
Senior Congress leader from Telangana V. Hanumantha Rao said that uranium mining would pollute the Krishna course and subject the future generations to lot of suffering.
“On the lines of the GO issued against bauxite mining in the Agency area, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy should issue an order opposing uranium mining in Nallamala,” he said.
He urged Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy to join hands with Mr. Chandrasekhara Rao and mount pressure on the Centre.
Congress leader N. Tulasi Reddy said the government should look for a solution as it was impossible to stop mining at Thummalapalli on Kadapa.
CPI(M) State secretary P. Madhu sought immediate halt to the mining and exploration activity, and sanction of compensation of ₹30 lakh to each farmer affected.
Please Email the Editor