11 Committee visited Uranium factory in Tummalapalle

Kadapa: Following the directions of the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, an 11 member committee adopted by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) headed by Bombay based Atomic Energy Regulatory Board Nuclear Project Safety Division Head LR Bishnoi has visited the tail pond of Uranium factory located in Tummalapalli village of Vempalle Mandal on Monday.

On this occasion the committee has discussed various issues with the factory management like how many tones are being mined every day, cleaning process, seepage let to the tail pond, seepage causing to the health hazards for people, crop losses, precautionary measures being taken to prevent the pollution etc. However, the factory management told the committee that they have been maintaining high standards related to the cleaning procedure and let the wastewater in the tail end pond constructed outskirts of the Tummala palli village. Later the committee inspected the tail pond.

Meanwhile, mild tension prevailed at Tummalapalli village when the people from surrounding villages rushed the spot under the banners of CPI, Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee(APCLC) standstill the committee members of their failure in visiting their villages. Kadapa CPI district secretary G.Eswaraiah explained the committee that crops in the villages like M. Tummalapalli, Mabbu Chinthalapalle, KK Kottala, and surrounding villages being destroyed due to seepage let out from the tail pond of Uranium factory. He said people also are being threatened to various serious problems like TB, Cancer and other respiratory problems due to the vast pollution of groundwater. The CPI recalled that people of Kottala, Mabbuchinthapalle, M.Tummalapalli have given about 2,300 acres for the establishment of Uranium factory. He alleged that the factory management least bothered in addressing the problems being faced by the people. He warned the launching indefinite fast if the government fails to address the problem.

Responding to their plea committee head LR Bisnoi assure the people that they would visit every village for three days and interact with the people over the issue later submit detail report to the government.