KCR rules out mining of uranium in State

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday ruled out giving permission for uranium mining in Nallamala forests. He told the Assembly that the state government has neither given any permission for uranium mining in the state nor it has any proposal to do so in future.

Allaying apprehensions among the people, KCR said his government will not allow destruction of Nallamala forests at any cost.

He said the Assembly and Council would adopt a resolution on Monday urging the Centre not to take up uranium mining in Nallamala forest. If the Centre puts pressure on the state, 'we will fight it unitedly', he added.

The Chief Minister recalled that it was in 2009 that the then Congress government in undivided Andhra Pradesh allowed uranium exploration, and pointed out that in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, uranium mining has also begun.

KCR said uranium mining could contaminate water projects like Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar and Pulichintala across Krishna river and destroy its delta area.

This could also impact water supply to Hyderabad, he said. Earlier, Industries Minister KT Rama Rao while responding to a question in the Council said that the state government would not allow uranium mining in Nallamala forest area.

Explaining varied usage of uranium, the minister said the Atomic Mineral Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) is exploring for uranium under the present BJP-led NDA government.

The AMD survey from 1992-2012 in Kambapur, Peddagattu and Chintrial of Nalgonda districts found an estimated 18,550 metric tonnes of uranium deposits.

However, the AMD has not yet taken up any exploration in parts of Amrabad Tiger Reserve falling under Nalgonda and Nagarkurnool districts, he added.