Stop open cast mining: TRS MLA

Hyderabad, July 29 :-

 Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLA Etela Rajender on Wednesday demanded the Singareni Collieries Company Limited drop the plan of open cast coal mines in Adilabad district.

Talking to media persons, he said that the TRS would launch its first agitational programme at Innaram in Adilabad district to protest against open cast coal mining taken up by the government.

The mining activities would not only pollute environment but will also degrade fertility of agricultural lands in and around areas, he added.

He said that the open cast mines may work out to be cheaper but they pollute the region.

He pointed out that open cast mining had cost hundreds of villages displacing the poor.

He demanded that Singareni Collieries must encourage 'labour-friendly' underground mining in place of open cast mining which was causing environmental problems.

He claimed that only six contractors from Andhra region were benefitted to the tune of Rs 1100 crore due to open cast minining, which provided employment to only 60,000 workers as against one lakh workers earlier.

He alleged that attempts were on lease the Open cast projects to the ruling party leaders who had set up thermal power stations in private sector.

The MLA said the issue would be raised in assembly session for discussion till it gets due justice to Telangana region.