Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

PCB gets ready for public hearing on RAK refinery

VISAKHAPATNAM: The AP Pollution Control Board is bracing up to hold public hearing on another integrated aluminium complex Rachapalli in Makavarapalem mandal on June 7.

After Jindal South West Limited shifted its refinery proposal from Sabbavaram to Bodduwara in S.Kota mandal, the APPCB conducted a public hearing last year amid strong opposition from the locals. However, the opposition notwithstanding, the Ministry of Environment gave the clearance to the project after which the Jindal management performed bhoomi puja for its refinery project. Anticipating trouble, the district administration is making elaborate arrangement for the public hearing for the aluminium project proposed at Rachapalli by Ras Al-Khaiamah and its Indian partners by floating a flagship company named Amrak Aluminium Limited.

The company, which signed an memorandum of understanding with the State Government in 2007 for sourcing bauxite ore from the agency belt through AP Mineral Development Corporation, will invest Rs.7,020 crores on a 1.5 million tonne alumina refinery, 0.25 million tonne aluminium smelter and 90 mw co-generation plant.

The AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation has recently acquired 2,000 acres in the face of protest by the farming community. At no point of time, the villagers were told that the acquisition at G. Koduru, Rachapalli and other areas of Makavarapalem mandal was allotment to the aluminium complex proposed by Ras Al-Khaiamah.

Samata, an NGO demanded postponement of public hearing in view of inadequate information given by the authorities on the controversial project on rehabilitation, environmental impact, displacement and availability of water for the plant.

In a representation to Collector Sanjay Kumar, Samata executive director Rebbapragda Ravi said the EIA merely mentioned the social impacts in two places. In the beginning of the document it said the plan fell within the jurisdiction of three villages- Rachapalli, Bheemboinapalem and G.Koduru, whereas in the field, notices were served to families in about 13 villages.

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