Even as activists of the Communist Party of India
staged protests demanding cancellation of mining lease agreements between the state government and private companies at Bayyaram in Khammam district, State Girijan Society leader Kunja Dharma on Thursday threatened to launch an agitation if the government did not revive mining in the area immediately.
Talking to media persons, Kunja Dharma said that the employment opportunities of Girijans were being affected, and that the livelihood of thousands of them was being deprived, due to halting of mining activity in the area.
Meanwhile, MLC Jupudi Prabhakara Rao also echoed Kunja Dharma's words by saying that the employment opportunities of Girijans was hit due to the agitation taken up by the CPI. He said that the party was dragging the controversy for political gains by staging protests.
Prabhakara Rao urged the government to conduct a resurvey and draft a clear mining policy in the wake of allegations on the mining leases.
He appealed to the government to protect the interests of Girijans while giving mines for leases.
Earlier, state Backward Class leader R Krishnaiah also urged the government to reconsider its mining policy in the wake of allegations of irregularities in the allotment of mines.
Courtesy: INN