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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | 'Congress vs Congress' as tribal ministry opposes mining in Andhra -Subodh Ghildiyal

'Congress vs Congress' as tribal ministry opposes mining in Andhra -Subodh Ghildiyal

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published Published on Apr 18, 2013   modified Modified on Apr 18, 2013
-The Times of India


In the continuing 'Congress vs Congress' green battle, the Union tribal ministryhas once again rebuffed the Andhra government's attempt to start mining in tribal pockets of Vishakhapatnam, rejecting the claim that ban on sale or lease of tribal land to non-tribals was not applicable to state corporations.

Reiteration of the illegality came after Andhra mounted a fresh defence of the bauxite mining lease - after a meeting in the PMO in February had veered towards the view that mining projects may be legally unsustainable and five months after the Union tribal ministry directed the state to cancel them for serious violations.

According to sources, tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo this week shot down the fresh petition in another detailed order, insisting the project be cancelled. He had in September directed Andhra to scrap the mining lease, triggering a rearguard action from the state. Now, it is to be seen if Andhra respects the veto.

The two-year-old confrontation between the Congress minister and the party-led Andhra government has at its core the concern over primitive tribes who inhabit the pristine Araku region of Vishakhapatnam.

Deo, in earlier missives to the Andhra governor and the state government, said digging for bauxite would dry up the five rivers flowing through the region and uproot the traditional way of life of the indigenous communities.

An optimistic Andhra sent a fresh petition to the Centre, questioning the argument that its mining lease violated the law that bars non-tribals from buying/leasing land in Scheduled Areas (Alienation of Land Transfer Regulation Act). The state reportedly said the regulation did not apply to Andhra Pradesh Mining Development Corporation since it was a government entity.

However, Deo is learnt to have rejected the defence, underlining that APMDC, in turn, signed MoUs with private companies including foreign firms for mining. Even otherwise, the ministry believes that mining cannot happen in scheduled areas under the cover of state corporations.

While Andhra cited the nod from the Union mines ministry, Deo is learnt to have argued that approvals from ministries could not override constitutional safeguards given in Schedule V. According to sources, the minister said there was no need to review the earlier communication seeking revocation of mining lease/MoU to APMDC.

Insiders say the contentious issue has dragged for long. While the state has strong reservations about cancelling mining, sections of Congress are worried about the repercussions of going ahead with it.

Deo wrote to the governor last May to cancel the lease by invoking his special powers regarding scheduled areas but the latter forwarded the communication to the Union home ministry for advice while underlining the problems that could arise with cancellation.

An exasperated tribal minister last September directed the state to cancel the mining lease.


The Times of India, 18 April, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Congress-vs-Congress-as-tribal-ministry-opposes-mining-in-Andhra/articleshow/19606908.cms


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