No uranium mining in Nallamala Forest, says KCR

  • Assembly to pass a resolution against Uranium mining today and send to Centre
  • Congress itself gave permissions in the past and UCIL mining Uranium in Kadapa
  • KTR makes similar statement in Legislative Council

Hyderabad: TRS government would not allow uranium mining in Nallamala forests at any cost, the uranium project will be a big harm to environment, TS Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao stated in Assembly.

CM declared that the State Legislative Assembly would pass a single-sentence resolution on Monday denying permission for uranium mining and send a copy of it to the Centre. His government was ready to fight against the Centre, along with all political parties in the state, in case it ignores the House resolution and goes ahead with uranium mining.

While giving reply to a discussion in House on budget on Sunday, the Chief Minister
assured members that his government would protect the Nallamala forests. There was no need for people to feel concerned over uranium mining as the state government would never give permission to the Centre to take up uranium mining in the Nallamala forests.

The previous Congress government had given permission for uranium mining, though political parties and people had objected. Already the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) was mining uranium in Kadapa.

KCR expressed his concern, saying that the Krishna water would be polluted if the Centre mined uranium in Nallamala forests. People in Hyderabad would also be affected as they were drinking Krishna water, he pointed out.

At this point, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka suggested that the government should to pass a single-sentence resolution in the Assembly stating that the state government would not give permission for uranium mining and send a copy to the Centre.

The Chief Minister accepted the CLP leader’s suggestion. Municipal Minister KT
Ramarao made it clear in the Legislative Council that the TRS government would not give any permission for uranium mining not only now, but also in future.

During question hour, KTR said that prospecting for uranium was completed in
Lambapur of Nalgonda district, but it could not take place in Nagar Kurnool-Amrabad
forests. He cited a statement of the Wild Life Protection Department that it would not give permission for uranium mining though there were uranium deposits in Nallamala forests.

KTR then asked: “The Chief Minister has taken up Haritha Haram programme in a big way aiming to protect the environment. How one can expect that he will give permission for uranium mining in the state?” It may be recalled that protests against uranium mining have gained momentum in the state.

The Telangana Congress appointed a comittee under the leadership of senior leader V Hanumantha Rao to fight against uranium mining. Cine actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena, TJS and Left parties too joined hands with the Congress to take up agitations against uranium mining.

These parties are conducting an all-party meeting on September 16 in Hyderabad to chalk out an action plan to wage a movement against uranium mining. Celebrities like cine directors and actors as well as netizens were extending their solidarity through social media platforms.