Andhra Pradesh   

Pollution Control Board says `no' to uranium plant

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 28. In a major victory for environmental groups, the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board is believed to have decided rejected and "not to consider" the Uranium Corporation of India Limited's proposal to set up uranium mining unit and processing plant at Lambapur/Peddagattu and Mallapuram villages respectively in Nalgonda district.

The decisions were taken at the meeting of the Consent For Establishment Committee held here on Wednesday. The proposal for the processing plant at Mallapuram, in the vicinity and catchment of the Nagarjunasagar reservoir, was rejected out of hand by the committee. The Technical Committee that had studied the project is reported to have already rejected the proposal.

The uranium mining unit was proposed in the Lambapur/ Peddagattu area at Rajiv Gandhi sanctuary abutting the Nagarjunasagar reservoir. In the case of this unit, the Technical Committee suggested safeguards for its operations, as it was site-specific. This was despite the fact that there was potential for radiological and non- radiological contamination of the reservoir. A representative of the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board too, is reported to have expressed concern about the likelihood of radiological contamination to the reservoir and the offtake point for the drinking water supply scheme to Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

At today's meeting, the CFE Committee decided not to consider the request for consent of the UCIL at the proposed site as the suggestions and recommendations of the Technical Committee are "impracticable and go against the universally accepted precautionary principle."

The Movement Against Uranium Project (MAUP) convenors, Capt. J. Rama Rao and Ravi Rebbaragada, hailed the decision of the APPCB.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• TRS rules out truck with Congress
• Centre releases Rs. 20 cr. for water schemes
• Godavari water for Krishna delta favoured
• Azad kick-starts poll campaign; calls Naidu pro-rich
• Get ready for simultaneous polls, Naidu tells MPs
• Separate Andhra State sought
• `AP being used as laboratory for privatisation'
• HC hears arguments in writ plea against Naidu
• Ready for unconditional talks with naxals: CM
• `ZP schools outdo private ones'
• Pollution Control Board says `no' to uranium plant
• Nepal Crown Prince worships at Tirumala
• TDP can bank on women: Naidu
• Panel report on sand transport
• Booty recovered
• State gets 8,000 more EVMs
• Briefly

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu