Union Tribal Welfare Minister Kishore Chandra Deo has vetoed the move by the AP Government to undertake bauxite mining in the eastern ghats of Visakhapatnam district and brought the curtains down on the controversy raging over the issue for the past few years. He has revoked seven mining licences.
The move was initiated, it may be noted, by the late Rajasekhara Reddy, the former chief minister, a few years ago and two companies, Jindals and Anrak, were given permission to set up alumina refineries in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts, respectively.
AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) was to have undertake bauxite mining in the area and provide the ore to the companies.
It triggered a bitter row, with the environmental groups and others alleging that bauxite mining would ruin the ecological balance of the area and the livelihood of Girijans.
But the State Government went ahead with the public hearings and was bent on undertaking bauxite mining.
In this backdrop, the Union Minister, who represents the Araku parliamentary constituency where the bauxite reserves are located, took the decisive step and he wrote to the Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh to give up the move, stating that all clearances and licences given for the purpose stand revoked and no further steps should be taken in the direction.
The Union Minister had earlier written to the State Governor, urging him to invoke special powers under Section 244 (1) of the Constitution, and revoke all licences given for the purpose. But the Governor did not act.
“Therefore, I am forced to invoke the special powers under the constitutional provision and revoke seven licences given to undertake bauxite mining in the district. It is the responsibility of the Chief Secretary to ensure compliance, as I have written to him,’’ he said.
The Minister, who has been opposing bauxite mining all along, said he had consulted constitutional experts before undertaking the move to cancel the licences.