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From: Sukla Sen <suklasen@yahoo.com> Date: Thu Mar 3, 2005 11:32am Subject: Uranium Processing Plant at Sheripally, Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh, India Faces Popular Resistance [The popular agitation against the proposed uranium plant is being led by the Movement Against Uranium Project (MAUP) and the Jana Vignana Vedika (JVV), both constituents of the national level Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP). Today, on 3rd March, the second public hearing is scheduled to be held. Eminent anti-nuke peace activists, Dr. Surendra Gadekar, Praful Bidwai and Sandeep Pandey - all National Coordination Committee members of the CNDP, are to attend the hearing and present the case of severe health hazards that the plant is likely to pose to the people of the entire region who consume the water drawn from the famous Nagarjunasagar. The plant is meant to process the uranium ore extracted from nearby mines in the Nalgonda district itself. These proposed mines are also no less of a threat to the local population, largely tribals. The campaign has notched up significant success in stalling the pace of the UCIL project.] From : Channa Basavaiah Madapathi <chennaou@r...> Date:02/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/02/stories/2005030212930300.htm --------------------------------- Andhra Pradesh - Others Fate of proposed uranium plant hangs in balance By S. Ramu DEVARAKONDA (NALGONDA DT.), MARCH 1. The future of the Rs. 372-crore uranium processing plant proposed by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited hangs in the balance due to the opposition from peoples' representatives, environmental groups and, last but not least, local tribals. The UCIL shifted the processing plant site from Mallapuram in Pedda Adisarlapally mandal to Seripally in Devarkonda mandal. While the distance between the mining area, Peddagattu, and Mallapuram was 18 km, the proposed site is 55 km way from the former. "The present site, Seripally, is 28 km from Nagarjunasagar. Hence, there will not be any scope for water contamination,'' the UCIL's Chief Superintendent, Mechanical, Madhusudan Rao, observes. Survaram sceptical However, the Nalgonda MP and CPI general secretary, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, is not ready to buy the argument. "We oppose the proposal since the plant could create havoc in the event of floods,'' he told The Hindu on the phone from New Delhi on Tuesday. ``If the water that is used for processing of the ore leaks into Nagarjunsagar, it would be having a devastating impact on people. We don't want to see the project anywhere near Nagarjunasagar,'' he maintains. Mr. Reddy has written to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the top brass of the UCIL expressing concern over the project. The local MLA, Ravindra Naik, says efforts are on to raise strong objection during the public hearing slated for March 3. It may be recalled that people expressed strong resentment over the construction of the project during the public hearing conducted at Pedda Adisarlapally market yard on August 19, 2003. The UCIL desires to acquire 278 hectares of area (173 ha for processing plant, 80 ha for tailings disposal and 25 ha for township) from various survey numbers in Seripally and Mudigonda in Devarakonda mandal and Venkatampet in Chintapally mandal. Of the total area required, 2.43 hectares is Government land, 80 ha belongs to the Forest Department and the balance is "private, dry patta land,'' according to UCIL officials. [Another 9more comprehensive) report on the same issue is also affixed below.] http://www.antenna.nl/wise/uranium/upin.html#LAMBAPUR Lambapur-Peddagattu project (Andhra Pradesh)Opposition also to new site of uranium mill The future of the uranium processing plant proposed by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) hangs in the balance due to the opposition from peoples' representatives, environmental groups and, last but not least, local tribals. The UCIL shifted the processing plant site from Mallapuram in Pedda Adisarlapally mandal to Seripally in Devarkonda mandal. While the distance between the mining area, Peddagattu, and Mallapuram was 18 km, the proposed site is 55 km way from the former. "The present site, Seripally, is 28 km from Nagarjunasagar [reservoir]. Hence, there will not be any scope for water contamination," the UCIL's Chief Superintendent, Mechanical, Madhusudan Rao, observes. However, the Nalgonda MP and Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, is not ready to buy the argument: "We oppose the proposal since the plant could create havoc in the event of floods. If the water that is used for processing of the ore leaks into Nagarjunsagar, it would be having a devastating impact on people. We don't want to see the project anywhere near Nagarjunasagar". The UCIL desires to acquire 278 hectares of area (173 ha for processing plant, 80 ha for tailings disposal and 25 ha for township). The projected cost for the processing plant is Rs. 3.72 billion (US$ 85.3 million). A public hearing is slated for March 3, 2005. (The Hindu March 2, 2005) New site for proposed uranium mill being considered "We are going to change the processing plant site in tune with the Technical Committee's opinion that it should be established away from Nagarjunasagar," State Minister for Mines and Geology, Uma Madhava Reddy said adding that the Government would take a decision on the issue in a couple of months. UCIL officials had already launched a search to shift the processing unit to a "safer" site much before the PCB came out with its observations last week. A team of officials inspected revenue land at Seripally in Devarkonda mandal for the purpose, it is learnt. (The Hindu, Feb. 2, 2004) State Pollution Control Board says 'no' to uranium plant In a major victory for environmental groups, the Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board is believed to have decided rejected and "not to consider" the Uranium Corporation of India Limited's (UCIL) proposal to set up uranium mining unit and processing plant at Lambapur/Peddagattu and Mallapuram villages respectively in Nalgonda district. The decisions were taken at the meeting of the Consent For Establishment (CFE) Committee held in Hyderabad on Jan. 28, 2004. The proposal for the processing plant at Mallapuram, in the vicinity and catchment of the Nagarjunasagar reservoir, was rejected out of hand by the committee. The Technical Committee that had studied the project is reported to have already rejected the proposal. The reservoir, built to supply Hyderabad with water, now already contains uranium concentrations in the 2 - 3 ?µg/L range, that is above the former WHO 2 ?µg/L preliminary guidance (WHO's current preliminary guidance is 15 ?µg/L). Expert opinion is that once mining of uranium ore is permitted in the Lambapur-Peddagattu belt, the leaching of radionuclides into the Nagarjunasagar reservoir will only increase. For the proposed uranium mine in the Lambapur/ Peddagattu area, the Technical Committee suggested safeguards for its operations. However, the CFE Committee decided not to consider the request for consent of the UCIL at the proposed site as the suggestions and recommendations of the Technical Committee are "impracticable and go against the universally accepted precautionary principle." (The Hindu Jan. 29, 2004; Times of India Jan. 30, 2004) Tracts of tiger reserve excised for uranium exploration On January 16, 2004, the Union forest and environment ministry has approved the denotification of 1,000 hectares of the Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve and 1,000 hectares of reserve forest in Chitral to allow UCIL to carry out exploratory drilling for uranium. Sources said the area that has been dereserved is home to some species of deer and several invertebrates. The Zoological Survey of India had sometime ago discovered some new species in the area where exploratory drilling has been permitted, sources added. (Times of India, Feb. 2, 2004) Guerrilla group attacks Lambapur-Peddagattu uranium mine project On Dec. 3, 2003, the People's War Group (PWG) set on fire exploration equipment at the site of the proposed Lambapur-Peddagattu uranium mine. Two drilling machines, two generators, two trucks and a jeep were set ablaze by armed members of the guerrilla group. Later, the group held a meeting in Peddagattu village, explaining the tribals the anticipated hazards of the proposed mine. (The Hindu Dec. 5, 2003) Guerrilla group joins opposition to Lambapur uranium mine project "We will prevent the project from coming into existence at any cost," spokesman Malkapuram Bhaskar of (Maoist) People's War asserted. The state government should not permit such "anti-people" projects. (Times of India Aug. 25, 2003) Political parties worried about Lambapur uranium mine project The proposed uranium mining project in Nalgonda district has attracted the attention of the major political parties with Congress, MIM, CPI and CPM demanding that the government should put the project on hold until a consensus is reached on the utility and safety of the project. (Times of India Aug. 17, 2003) Mining project will affect reserve forest and tiger reserve As per Uranium Corporation of India Limited's (UCIL's) plans, mining will be conducted over 400 hectares of the Rayaram reserve forest. Similarly, the uranium ore processing plant to be set up near Mallapuram village in the P A Pally mandal is just 3 km away from the Azmapuram reserve forest. Adding to the worries is the fact that the Rajiv Gandhi-Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve is less than 6 km from the proposed mining area. According to a senior official of the forest department, as per the provisions of the Indian Wildlife Act, no industrial activity shall be permitted within 25 km of a notified sanctuary. Further, mining being an activity capable of increasing the noise levels, the environmentalists' apprehension is that the project, if it becomes a reality, will drive away the precious wildlife of the area. The tiger reserve and the adjoining reserve forest where the mining is proposed is home to the tiger, leopard, bear, several species of deer and other animals. (Times of India, Aug. 7, 2003) About the Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve: Wildlife Protection Society of India Tiger Reserves ?· Project Tiger (Ministry of Environment and Forests) From the Project Tiger Status Report, 2001 (66k MS Word doc), Issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests NGOs mobilizing against uranium mining project With mining of uranium likely to begin shortly in Lambapur and Peddagutta villages near Nalgonda, several NGOs in the city as well as in the districts have begun the task of mobilising public opinion against the project. The public hearing on the Uranium Corporation of India Limited's (UCIL) plan to set up a uranium mining plant would be taken up on August 19, 2003. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) prepared by UCIL would be presented to the public on August 19 to seek their opinion. NGOs like Samriti, Environment Protection Council, Centre for Resource Education , Citizens Against Pollution, and Mines Minerals and People are already camping in the area to increase awareness among the villagers about the possible side-effects. A documentary depicting the effects of a similar uranium plant in Jaduguda, Bihar, would also be shown. "The EIA says that the radiation will be minimal and constantly monitored, but they do not have any concrete action plan as to how they would minimise the radiation," Narasimha Reddy of the Centre for Resource Education said. As the proposed plant is close to Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir, the effect of radiation, if any, would not only affect the local population but people residing in a much bigger area, he said. "The run-off water from the mine and surrounding areas will seep into the reservoir and finally find its way to the city," Reddy said. The Akkampally reservoir is only 14 km from the proposed mining fields, he said. (Times of India Aug. 1, 2003) Uranium mining sets off alarm bells in Andhra Pradesh Mallapuram and other nearby villages of the Nalgonda district could face disaster if the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) starts extracting and processing uranium, which some greens say is highly likely "given the past safety record of UCIL," it has been claimed. The UCIL wants to set up a 1,250 tonnes a day capacity uranium ore mining unit and processing unit. It would have to acquire 526.65 hectares in the Peddagattu and Yellapur villages for mining uranium and 318.25 hectares for a processing plant proposed to be set up in the Dugyal and Mallapuram villages. Villagers say the "uranium people" - company representatives - called on them and are making preparations to hold an environmental public hearing on August 19, 2003. Greens warned villagers against allowing a uranium processing plant to be located so close to human habitations. It's just one km, from the Nagarjunasagar dam which supplies water for irrigation while the Akkampalli reservoir is four kms away, which is the offtake point for Hyderabad's new drinking water supply scheme. (Gulf News July 30, 2003) State government to issue mining license for Lambapur-Peddagattu project The state government will shortly issue mining licence to the Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL) to extract uranium ore from the Lambapur and Peddagutta reserves in Nalgonda district. The decision comes in the wake of a technical committee, which studied the UCIL project at Jaduguda in Jharkhand, clearing the proposal to set up a hydro metallurgical plant in Nalgonda district. The corporation estimated that the two places in Nalgonda district have about 11.02 million tonnes of uranium [ore] reserves spread in a 1,326-acre [536 ha] land. The UCIL reportedly proposed to invest about Rs 450 crore [Rs 4.5 billion = US$ 96 million] for setting up the plant. According to estimates, the UCIL proposed to generate about 1,250 tonnes of ore per day for 20 to 25 years. Meanwhile, J Rama Rao of Forum for Better Hyderabad , has asked the government to conduct an environmental impact analysis before allowing the UCIL to start mining operations in Nalgonda district. "In the name of development, future generations should not be deprived of their rights." (Times of India May 22, 2003) UCIL applies for mining license for Lambapur-Peddagattu project Uranium Corporation of India Limited has applied for grant of mining lease for their Lambapur-Peddagattu project (Andhra Pradesh). (Hindustan Times, Feb. 18, 2003) |
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March03, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]THREE YEARS AFTER GENOCIDE IN GUJARAT >> |
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