Tribal Welfare Minister P Balaraju, on Sunday, denied media reports stating that the government had passed a resolution in the 106th Tribal Advisory Committee meeting held on Saturday giving permits for bauxite mining in tribal areas.
Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party Office, the Tribal Welfare Minister said that the meeting did not discuss the issue of giving permits to bauxite mining, and that it did not pass any resolution on the issue.
Stating that there was no truth in the media report, he said that the committee had passed 4 resolutions - including a presentation to the Governor of an annual budget for Girijans, providing better education to tribal students from the 3rd to the 9th standard, the implementation of an LTR Act that prevents transfer of tribal property to non-tribals, and no permits for mining in tribal areas.
Balaraju said that the committee meeting had given elected representatives all powers to present their views on tribal welfare in the Assembly.
He said that the meeting had hailed Speaker Nadendla Manohar's decision of permitting a one-day discussion on tribals who live in Araku valley in Visakhapatnam district.
The minister reiterated that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would not take any decision that would affect the welfare of tribals in the state. (INN)