Green activists back Chenchus fight against uranium mining

Nagarkurnool/ Hyderabad: The Union government's recent decision to take up uranium mining in Nallamalla forest area at Amrabad in old Mahbubnagar district poses a big threat to the survival of 430 Chencu families who stay in the thick forest zone.

The environmentalists, who have been expressing concern over the Centre's decision, have decided to visit the tribal habitations on July 19 and join them in the stir.

With news spreading about the government acquiring permission from the Wildlife Protection Board to take up mining has created fear among the Chenchus.

They have resorted to agitations. "Forests are our lifeline. We are depending on the forests for our livelihood. We oppose government's move and will go to any extent to contain their moves to destroy the green and peaceful environment of Nallamalla," said a Chenchu leader.

It is learnt that a few organisations had taken up aerial survey using helicopters, and this was opposed by the locals. "Mining in Nallamalla is against the environmental norms since it houses thousands of wild animals, endangered species like birds, tigers, deer and various other animals.

If the government tries to go ahead with its plan of allowing uranium mining, it will be a disastrous decision not only for the habitats but also to fauna and flora.

We will never allow that to happen," said Mahbubnagar CPI district secretary Paramesh Goud.

The tribals say that the uranium mining would disturb the ecology of the mountain ranges in the Eastern Ghats and could contaminate the two major reservoirs Srisailam and Nagarjunsagar.

Talking to The Hans India, environmentalist Prof K Purushottam Reddy said that the Central government is going for uranium at a time when the whole world is saying no to the nuclear energy.

Chenchus gain support from Greens against uranium mining

"Global public opinion is against the nuclear reactors. If the government is sincere, it should come out with a white paper specifying what is the money spent and what is the electricity generated on these projects.

Several reactors are limping. The earlier experience of Jaduguda in Odisha, should not be forgotten. It has become a horrifying site in the world," said Purushottam Reddy.

Another environmentalist B Subba Rao said that taking up uranium mining in Amrabad is against law because, it is a tiger sanctuary. "I am surprised and shocked with the government's move. They cannot enter into a declared project tiger sanctuary.

The government itself is violating the Acts passed by the government," said Subba Rao.

Way back in 2010, a survey report by a private organisation (DeBeers) identified that about 2,000 hectares of land under Ambrabad mandal, which is located about 40 kilometres from the Srisailam- Hyderabad highway,deep in the dense forest has large deposits of uranium.

The organisation during its survey had found deposits of diamonds, uranium and iron ore in the areas of Gattu in Gadwal and in the areas deep in Nallamalla forest which connects four districts, including Mahbubnagar (Telangana), Kurnool, Guntur and Prakasam (Andhra Pradesh).

Based on the report, the then Central government, in 2012 had conducted another survey and prepared a detailed proposal as to how to protect the wildlife and to relocate 430-odd Chenchu families from the Nallamalla jungle in the event of permitting uranium mining.

As part of this proposal, the state government then had also offered to give Rs 10 lakh to each Chenchu family and providing housing, job to a family member.

However, this move was vehemently opposed by the Chenchus and also the political parties. The Congress government had to dump the proposal after protests.