By IANS,
Visakhapatnam : A shutdown was observed amid tension in the tribal areas of Visakhapatnam district Wednesday to demand that the Andhra Pradesh government should not allow bauxite mining.
An all-party committee opposing the mining called for the shutdown to protest Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s visit to Paderu, about 150 km from the coastal city of Visakhapatnam.
Shops, businesses and educational institutions were closed in 13 mandals or blocks, especially in Paderu, Arakau Valley and surrounding tribal areas.
Police arrested dozens of opposition activists before the chief minister’s arrival in Paderu to take part in ‘Indiramma Baata’, a programme aimed at interacting with beneficiaries of welfare schemes.
A group of leaders and activists staged a protest outside the office of Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) in Paderu to demand that the chief minister speak out against the bauxite mining and cancel the projects awarded to companies.
The all-party committee comprising the Telugu Desam Party, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India-Marxist and some people’s groups have threatened to disrupt the chief minister’s programme.
Hundreds of policemen were deployed as security was stepped up in the agency areas. Police sealed off roads and took several people into custody as a precaution.
As the tribal area has Maoist influence, armed policemen were deployed.
Maoists and other groups as well as greens are supporting the movement by tribals against bauxite mining. They allege that the project would displace the tribals, affect their livelihood and harm the environment.
Union Tribal Welfare Minister Kishore Chandra Deo, who is from the region, is against the mining. He has asked Governor E.S.L. Narasmihan and the chief minister to cancel the MoU signed with two companies.
The state-owned Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corp has signed the MoUs to supply the ore from Jerrela deposits to Anrak Alumina Co and from Araku reserve to Jindal Co.