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Nod for MNC study raises eyebrows
It appears that the stage is set to explore uranium deposits in the Nallamala forest if permission given to the multinational company DeBeers to undertake sample surveys for the deposits is any indication.
Mahbubnagar: It appears that the stage is set to explore uranium deposits in the Nallamala forest if permission given to the multinational company DeBeers to undertake sample surveys for the deposits is any indication.
It may be recalled that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Telangana Jagruthi, the BJP and the Left parties fought tooth and nail when the erstwhile Congress government in the united Andhra Pradesh accorded permission for exploring uranium in the Nallamala forest.
Telangana Jagruthi chief and the present Member of Parliament K Kavitha assured the Chenchus during her tour in the forest in October 2010 that their interests would be protected. The DeBeers stopped the sample collections at that time.
Surprisingly, the TRS is now according permission to the same company for exploring uranium. And the Congress is now spearheading a movement to stop exploitation of Nallamala forest with its former MLA Vamsikrishna launching an agitation.
A large number of Chenchus are living in about 430 habitats in the Nallamala forest, eking out their living by selling forest products. For reasons better known to them, the Forest department has been preparing plans to shift Chenchu Girijans from their habitats with attractive packages.
The Chenchus would be shifted to Hyderabad or the place of their choice with Rs 10 lakh assistance for each family. They are also offered education for their children and pensions for the aged.
According to reliable sources, the DeBeers has been given permission to conduct exploration of uranium at Padara village in Amrabad mandal, spreading in Nallamala forest.
Exactly at the same place, a large tiger reserve is situated in 1.95 sq hectares with 17 tigers and rich flora and fauna.
The area selected for uranium exploration is situated in the thick forest, 40km from the Hyderabad-Srisailam National Highway.
The Wildlife Protection Council headed by Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna has recently accorded permission for uranium exploration causing concern among the tribal hamlets in the forest.
However, if the Central government accords permission, the uranium exploration would be launched on large-scale.
People fought tooth and nail in 2012, when the same company started sample survey in the same area of the forest.
The company found that the uranium deposits existed in 1,950 acres and sample survey is necessary to confirm the reports.
However, the Forest officials say that the permission was given for only sample survey and there is no permission for full-fledged exploration.
The Chenchus, who assumed that their problems would be solved after Telangana was formed, are in deep distress now over the reports of uranium exploration.
