The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Barytes project all set for expansion

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Sunday, Jul 29, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Barytes project all set for expansion

Staff Reporter

Production capacity to be increased to 30 lakh tonnes

30 wells irrigating 300 acres have failed
Tapping 40 million tonnes will require 35 years

KADAPA: Mangampet Barytes project at Mangampet in Kadapa district is all set for expansion of production capacity from seven lakh tonnes per year to 30 lakh tonnes.

Abundantly available Barytes ore at Mangampet should be widely excavated, District Revenue Officer K. Madhusudan said in an environmental public hearing on proposed expansion of barytes mining at Mangampet. He assured safety measures to ensure that no harm was caused to people living nearby. He visited the new colony and assured provision of all amenities in the new colony set up as part of rehabilitation of displaced families of the danger zone.

Excavation

Ore was being excavated in Mangampet Barytes Project since 1925 and has good international demand, general manager of A.P. Mineral Development Corporation Nagaraju said. The area, within a radius of 500 metres from the barytes mines, was notified as danger zone and 300 families living in it were shifted to New Mangampet colony nearby. The displaced were paid compensation. Thirty acres of land was being acquired for expanding the mine, he said.

MBP has a deposit of 74 million tonnes of barytes ore and only 15 million tonnes were excavated so far, Mr. Nagaraju said. Tapping of 30 to 40 million tonnes more would require 35 years. The expansion was mooted to cater to the growing demand for barytes.

Displaced persons were paid compensation of Rs. 40,000 per acre, but none given jobs in their families, Praja Rakshana Committee member Galla Srinivasulu said. Thirty wells that irrigated three hundred acres of ayacut in Surabhikunta failed due to mining, he added.

Drinking water, power and roads and drains were not provided in the new colony wherein the displaced were relocated, former sarpanch Gunipati Kesavulu said. APMDC dispensary had no medicines, he said and sought provision of basic amenities and medicare.

Environmental Engineer of APPCB, Tirupati Pramod Kumar, general manager of District Industries Centre Sudarshan, Obulavaripalle mandal president Tirupalalso participated.

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