Tribal organisations, NGOs and political parties, including BJP and BSP today expressed their strong opposition for according permission for laterite mining in Nagulakonda Forest Area affecting the livelihood of tribals and also disturb the catchment of several hill streams that supplies water for irrigation and drinking to over 120 tribal villages spread over to three mandals in scheduled area and four mandals in non-scheduled areas. The representatives of these organisations, including Rebbapragada Ravi,Executive director of SAMATA, Rajendra of SUJANA ,Malakondaiah of BJP, Venugopal of BSP have called on District Collector Neethu Kumary at the Collectorate and presented a memorandum requesting her not to accord permission for laterite mining in tribal villages of Avelty, Anumarty, Peddur and Ondregula in Velangi Panchayat of Sankhavaram Mandal as it affects the very survival of the tribals in the area besides destroying the catchment of Pampa, Yeleru and Thandava Reservoirs. A mining mafia is trying to take up mining in these areas on the basis of GO no: 196,228 issued in 2009 by the tainted IAS Officer Srilakshmi. The AP Pollution Control Board has issued notification for holding public hearing on September 20 on permitting the laterite mining.
These lands belongs to Konda Reddis, a primitive tribal group and according permission is a clear violation of Forest Conservation Act and Environment Protection Act, they added and urged the Collector to revoke the permission to the laterite mining in the area. UNI