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[The following are two reports from the Hindu on the public hearing held on 3rd March on the proposed uranium mining and processing in the Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh. (received from Sukla Sen)] <http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030414000300.htm>http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030414000300.htm Sparks fly at UCIL public hearing By Our Staff Reporter SERIPALLY (NALGONDA DT.), MARCH 3. The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) has said the State Government's proposal to accord permission for uranium mining at Peddagattu in Nalgonda district is pending with the Union Government. In his response to the issues raised by the public during the environmental public hearing on the proposed processing unit here on Thursday, the UCIL consultant, Murthy, said that "the proposal is under consideration." He also said the cost of the project, mining plus processing, was Rs.460 crores. In his opening remarks, a top official of the Corporation, Malhotra, argued that all the technologies in the country would be wasted, if "we don't have uranium.'' He further said that "it is the policy and culture of the Department of Atomic Energy to carry out the developmental work in an absolutely safe manner." However, noted anti-nuclear activist and columnist, Praful Bidwai, scoffed at the safety measures being taken by the DAE. `Terrible record' "It has terrible safety record and health hazards of uranium are high," he observed. Noted physicist, Dr.Surendra Gadekar, made a comparison between the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports prepared for Mallapur and Seripally projects and asked the UCIL to learn how to prepare a perfect report before taking up a project. Dr. Sanghamitra Gadekar said that uranium mining and processing had a killing impact on public in general and women in particular. Muvva Rama Rao of the Jana Vignana Vedika and Pasya Padma of AP Mahila Samakya called upon people to wage another war against the uranium project. They were referring to the Telangana peasants' armed struggle carried by the people against Nizam. `Propaganda' The UCIL came in for a sharp criticism for allegedly printing a pamphlet to crate public opinion in favour of the plant. "Unknown persons circulated a pamphlet carrying the versions of 39 persons who had visited Jadugua to know the impact of uranium. Who is behind such propaganda? I would like to know from the UCIL,'' the first speaker at the venue and Alagadapa sarpanch, V.Panduranga Rao, said. Interestingly, some of the speakers, who were part of the 39-member contingent, alleged that the UCIL had not allowed them to roam freely in and around Jaduguda. "They restricted our movement. We could not meet the people of our choice,'' the then Seripally sarpanch and Devarakonda MLA, Ravindra Kumar, said. The last speaker, Satyalakshmi of the Movement Against Uranium Project, criticized the UCIL for its "failure to respond'' to the objections raised at the public hearing. Expressing satisfaction over the proceedings, the Collector, K.Vijayanand, asked the participants not to suspect the integrity of the officials involved in the exercise. ''Every thing is recorded. We don't distort anything,'' he said. <http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030406890500.htm>http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/04/stories/2005030406890500.htm Opposition to uranium processing plant overwhelming By Our Staff Reporter SERIPALLY (NALGONDA DT.), MARCH 3. Environmentalists, people's representatives, political leaders and local tribals opposed the proposal to construct the uranium processing unit at Seripally in Devarakonda mandal of Nalgonda district. Of the 60 persons, who took part in the environment public hearing held by the Pollution Control Board here on Thursday, as many as 57 persons said a firm "no'' to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited's proposal to set up the Rs.372-crore processing plant. Those who raised serious objection to the plan included the Nalgonda MP, Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, the Devarakonda MLA, Ravindra Kumar, the Seripally sarpanch, R. Sakru Naik, eminent anti-nuclear activists, Praful Bidwai of New Delhi, Surendra Gadekar and Sanghamitra Gadekar of Gujarat, apart from a large number of locals, predominantly lambadas. `We want water' ``Please leave us alone. If you are sincere enough in developing our area, please provide us water so that we can cultivate our fields,'' said majority of the locals. In a letter that was addressed to the PCB officials, the Nalgonda MP expressed reservation even against mining of uranium at Paddgattu in Pedda Adisarlapally mandal. All the environmentalists and scientists demanded the same. The opposition to the project was so strong that three persons, who tried to defend the UCIL's proposal, were loudly booed off the dais. The police and the MLA had to intervene to control the irate protesters from coming towards the dais. A large contingent of police led by two Additional Superintendents of Police -- Ravinder and Krishna Swamy -- was deployed in and around the venue fearing trouble from local people. Tension at venue The tribals had to trek about 2 km in the scorching sun to reach the public hearing venue, which was reportedly shifted from Seripally village to an open space near the highway. The hearing lasted more than five hours. Tension prevailed at the venue when an environmental activist, Saraswathi, alleged that an official of the UCIL shoved her and tore an anti-uranium wall poster she was holding. Though the UCIL team tried to allay the fears of the public, locals raised slogans against the project compelling the officers to cut short their presentation. The district Collector, K. Vijayanand, gave an opportunity to almost all the persons who desired to express their opinion on the project. However, environmentalists and anti-uranium activists took objection to his decision to call off the public hearing without giving his concluding remarks. _________________________________ SOUTH ASIANS AGAINST NUKES (SAAN): An informal information platform for activists and scholars concerned about Nuclearisation in South Asia South Asians Against Nukes Mailing List: archives are available @ two locations May 1998 - March 2002: <groups.yahoo.com/group/sap/messages/1> Feb. 2001 - to date: <groups.yahoo.com/group/SAAN_/messages/1> To subscribe send a blank message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> South Asians Against Nukes Website: www.s-asians-against-nukes.org SOUTH ASIANS AGAINST NUKES (SAAN): An informal information platform for activists and scholars concerned about the dangers of Nuclearisation in South Asia SAAN Website: http://www.s-asians-against-nukes.org SAAN Mailing List: To subscribe send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SAAN Mailing List Archive : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SAAN_/ ________________________________ DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed in materials carried in the posts do not necessarily reflect the views of SAAN compilers. 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