VISAKHAPATNAM: The CPI organised a protest at the ITDA Office at Paderu on Friday opposing bauxite mining in the agency.

Addressing the protesters, party district secretary J.V. Satyanarayan Murthy expressed apprehensions that mining would lead to air and water pollution and agricultural land may turn uncultivable leaving tribals without means of livelihood.

He warned of a struggle by the party if the government went ahead with its plans for mining.

Pattas sought

The CPI leader wanted pattas to be given to tribals for the land they were cultivating and take up construction of checkdams on the hillstreams (geddas) to provide irrigation facility.

To improve education in the agency, he demanded that degree colleges be set up at Chintapalli and Araku and a women's degree college at Paderu. Backlog posts in the ITDA purview should be filled up.

A similar protest was organised at the RDO office at Narsipatnam by CPI district unit, A.P. Vyavasaya Karmika Sangham and Ryot Sangham demanding pattas for banjar and forest banjar lands, house-sites, ration cards and pensions under various categories.

Promises unfulfilled

Addressing protestors, Manam Anjaneyulu, former MLA and CPI State Council member, criticised the Congress Government stating its promises remained unfulfilled.

Following lack of response for protests at MRO offices, a siege was laid to the RDO office and if the problems still remained pending, protests would be staged at the Collectorate, he said.

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