The YSR Congress, led by ‘yuva neta’ Jaganmohan Reddy, for the first time, dissociated itself from the legacy of ‘Maha Neta’ YS Rajasekhar Redddy.
The party took strong objection to the GO no 97 issued by the TDP government, diverting reserved forest land to APMDC for mining of bauxite. In fact, it was Rajasekhar Reddy who leased out the hills in Visakhapatnam district containing huge deposits of bauxite ore to companies, Jindal and Anrak in 2005. Then Chandrababu Naidu launched a campaign against YSR alleging that ANRAK was the benami. And the then chief minister Rajasekhar Reddy didn’t care a hoot and pursued the project which was stopped by his sudden death. Now, roles have changed on the political stage. Naidu is pursuing the project while the party headed by YSR’s son opposing it.
On Friday, YSR Congress has said bauxite mining in tribal areas cannot be carried out without the consent of the locals and it is in gross violation of the existing rules and is also unconstitutional.
‘TDP was very vociferous and has written a strongly worded letter to the Governor to intervene and stop the mining of bauxite in agency areas as it is in violation of Forest Act and Samataha Act but after coming to power has taken a U-turn and issued a GO allowing the State owned Mining Corporation to go ahead with the mining activity,’ YSRC Party MLA Rajanna Dora said here on Friday.
Unless, the panchayat has given its permission no mining activity can be taken up in the tribal areas. TDP government did not set up Tribal Advisory Board as yet which shows its indifference. No mining activity can be taken up in agency area, without a resolution in the panchayat and Tribal Advisory Board.
‘It is shameful that TDP did not constitute a Tribal Advisory Board and no activity can be taken up even by the State and Centre without the consent of the Board and panchayat which was the directive given in the Samatha Act.
TDP opposing the bauxite mining while in opposition and giving permission to AP Mineral Development Corporation after coming to power exposes its double standards. When the letter written by Chandrababu Naidu to the Governor was shown at a press meet by our party leaders, the letter was immediately withdrawn from the TDP website, he said.
The MLA demand that the GO should be withdrawn and Tribal Advisory Board be set up immediately. He also demanded the implementation of all the promises for tribal welfare which were included in the election manifesto.
