Uranium mining will disturb rich heritage of Nallamala: Expert

Hyderabad: Retired senior scientist from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) and a member of HRF Dr K Babu Rao said, "Centre and State governments are acting anti to the people, the then government in 2003 also conspired to suppress the tribals and their livelihood by pitching Uranium mining in Sambapur, Peddagutta, Chitrayala, Neredugomma of Devarakonda constituency in Nalgonda district, which was thwarted by the left parties and civil societies."

He was speaking at a Round Table Conference organised by Telangana Girijana Samakhya (TGS) to 'stop uranium mining and save forests' here on Thursday.

He alleged that the Centre and State governments are signing agreements deliberately causing menace to the locals and their interests. He urged the public to condemn the Uranium mining, which will lead to disastrous consequences.

The hazardous chemical discharges will result in huge damage to environmental ecology and human life. Uranium mining will also disturb the wildlife, along with rich heritage and cultures which are unique to Nallamala. It would pose a severe threat to the indigenous Chenchu tribes, whose habitat is Nallamala forest, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Ramavath Anjaiah Nayak, General Secretary, TGS, alleged that fifth schedule of Indian Constitution was kept in the hands of capitalists and diluting forest ecology.

The radiation hazards of uranium mining were not appreciated in the early years, as it resulted in locals getting exposed to high levels of radiation.

Uranium mining results in the unavoidable radioactive contamination of the environment by solid, liquid and gaseous wastes. Inhalation of radon gas causes sharp increases in lung cancers among locals.