Srikakulam, September 24: The tribals of Kannedhara hill today began a relay- hunger strike at Puliputti village in Seetampeta mandal in protest against the delay on the part of the officials in quashing the clearance given to Virgin Rock Private Limited owned by revenue minister D Prasada Rao’s son Ram Manohar Naidu.
The villagers including Puliputti panchayat sarpanch S Mukhalingam are participating in the strike. All the opposition parties in the state have assured their support to the tribals to pressurise the government to cancel the white granite lease on Kannedhara hill, which serves as major source of livelihood for the tribals of Seetampeta and Kotturu mandals.
TDP politburo member K Yerrannaidu said the documents released by the then project director (2007) of ITDA K Satyavadhi, which directs that Tahsildar should not give a no objection certificate to anyone without prior permission of Integrated Tribal Development Authority, will be submitted to collector N Srikanth.
District president of CPI Sundar Lal alleged that the minister was misusing his power for his personal financial gains.
–Agencies