Jindal South's aluminium refinery plan hits hurdle

NEW DELHI: Jindal South West Aluminium���s investment plan of Rs 9,000 crore to establish 1.4 million tonne alumina refinery and 0.25 million tonne aluminium smelter in Andhra Pradesh has run into rough weather. Proposed bauxite mining in tribal area of Vishakapatnam district and refinery in Vizianagaram district has met with tribals��� opposition on environmental grounds.

Intensifying their ongoing agitation against the project, panchayats of tribal villages ������ Mushidipalli, Kiltampalem, Moola Boddavara, Cheedipalem, Chinakandepalli ������ of S Kota Mandal in Vizianagaram district have signed a resolution charging that bauxite mining in the area would make a feast of forest resources.

Villagers allege that the refining and mining units will lead to loss of livelihood. ���We will lose our land, water and coffee plantations. Bauxite smelting requires huge amount of water, which will dry our rivers,��� said an elected member of Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) S Bangarama.

The proposed mining activity for bauxite, which will be conducted by Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) in the Araku Valley has also met with resistance. Bangarama said despite a formal resolution against mining and smelting projects by the people, the environment and forests ministry (MoEF) had cleared the refining project.
Local NGO Samata and environmentalists spearheading the protests regret that the government ignored majority opinion at the public hearing for Jindal project. They allege that the project is also in violation of Forest Land Rights Act, 2006.

APMDC has partnered with JSWAL to undertake the mining and supply of bauxite ore to the refinery. ���We have received all permissions and clearances for the refinery and we have no role in mining. APMDC will conduct public hearing for bauxite mining after forest diversion clearance is granted,��� JSWAL spokesperson told the media.

Around 132 tribal villages in 10 km radius of the mining site, which depend on the forest produce and coffee plantation, will be affected by the project. The major concern for the tribals is loss of forest on which they���ve depended for generations to earn their livelihood.