Andhra Pradesh - Others   

Mining workers extract promises from Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

MANGAMPET (CUDDAPAH DT.), AUG. 17. The Minister for Mines, Sabitha Indra Reddy, on Tuesday assured steps to resolve issues concerning mining workers such as appointments on compassionate grounds, regularisation of daily-wage workers, automatic advancement scheme and extending workers a share of profits, which had been neglected by the previous TDP Government.

`Just' demands

The Minister, who paid her first official visit to the Mangampet Barytes Project today, termed the demands of the unions `just'. Addressing the workers at MBP, she responded positively to the demand to share the A.P. Mineral Development Corporation's profit with the workers.

Sabitha Reddy said efforts were on to secure railway siding at Mangampet at a cost of Rs. 7 crores, as an alternative to transportation of baryte ore to Kodur railway station, which would lead to an annual saving of Rs. 70 crores. She urged the Rajampet RDO, Ramachandra Reddy, to allot 25 acres of land to relocate the displaced Mangampet villagers from the `danger zone'. The Mining Department would coordinate with the Irrigation Department to ensure that water bailed out of mines was diverted for irrigation purpose, the Minister said. The Minister watched controlled blasting operations in the world's largest opencast barytes mine and heard the plight of the workers' widows awaiting appointments. Earlier, she met some villagers who were displaced .

The APMDC Managing Director, V. D. Rajagopal, said 15 lakh tonnes of barytes ore would be excavated annually by setting up a beneficiation plant, as against the present annual production of six lakh tonnes. Mining in a 120-acre stretch at Mangampet was reserved for the APMDC and villages in a 500-metre radius around MBP were being relocated, he said.

Museum of minerals

The Rajampet MLA, K. Prabhavathamma, sought diversion of the water pumped out of the mines for irrigating lands in the vicinity. She suggested setting up of a museum displaying mineral wealth and red sanders, besides providing indoor recreation facilities for the mining workers.

The Honorary President of the APMDC Staff and Workers Union, Ch. Chandrasekhar Reddy, sought regularisation of workers which entailed no financial burden and steps to remedy the problems due to the previous Government's indifference. He said the mining workers laid their hopes on Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy for settlement of their problems.

The leader of another union, S. Sankaraiah, sought a hospital with 10 beds for workers.

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

• Mining workers extract promises from Minister
• New safety system at Tirumala introduced

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