The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Opposition to uranium processing plant overwhelming

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 04, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Opposition to uranium processing plant overwhelming

By Our Staff Reporter

SERIPALLY (NALGONDA DT.), MARCH 3. Environmentalists, people's representatives, political leaders and local tribals opposed the proposal to construct the uranium processing unit at Seripally in Devarakonda mandal of Nalgonda district.

Of the 60 persons, who took part in the environment public hearing held by the Pollution Control Board here on Thursday, as many as 57 persons said a firm "no'' to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited's proposal to set up the Rs.372-crore processing plant. Those who raised serious objection to the plan included the Nalgonda MP, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, the Devarakonda MLA, Ravindra Kumar, the Seripally sarpanch, R. Sakru Naik, eminent anti-nuclear activists, Praful Bidwai of New Delhi, Surendra Gadekar and Sanghamitra Gadekar of Gujarat, apart from a large number of locals, predominantly lambadas.

`We want water'

``Please leave us alone. If you are sincere enough in developing our area, please provide us water so that we can cultivate our fields,'' said majority of the locals. In a letter that was addressed to the PCB officials, the Nalgonda MP expressed reservation even against mining of uranium at Paddgattu in Pedda Adisarlapally mandal. All the environmentalists and scientists demanded the same.

The opposition to the project was so strong that three persons, who tried to defend the UCIL's proposal, were loudly booed off the dais. The police and the MLA had to intervene to control the irate protesters from coming towards the dais.

A large contingent of police led by two Additional Superintendents of Police -- Ravinder and Krishna Swamy -- was deployed in and around the venue fearing trouble from local people.

Tension at venue

The tribals had to trek about 2 km in the scorching sun to reach the public hearing venue, which was reportedly shifted from Seripally village to an open space near the highway. The hearing lasted more than five hours.

Tension prevailed at the venue when an environmental activist, Saraswathi, alleged that an official of the UCIL shoved her and tore an anti-uranium wall poster she was holding. Though the UCIL team tried to allay the fears of the public, locals raised slogans against the project compelling the officers to cut short their presentation.

The district Collector, K. Vijayanand, gave an opportunity to almost all the persons who desired to express their opinion on the project. However, environmentalists and anti-uranium activists took objection to his decision to call off the public hearing without giving his concluding remarks.

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