The girijans belonging to the Dumbriguda mandal, Visakhapatnam, conducted a rally from the Jagadamba Junction to the collectorate, protesting against the proposed China clay mining in their locality.
A large number of girijans, led by the leaders of girijan welfare associations, staged a dharna in front of the collectorate, demanding that the lease given to a private company be revoked. This dharna comes after the government failed to respond to their requests even after
girijans manhandling MLAs over the issue.
Speaking to the media, one of the leaders charged the government of disrespecting the views and interests of the girijans. He also alleged that the police were filing fake cases against them in an attempt to water down their revolt, and demanded that the registered cases be lifted.
In August 2010, the government had put in abeyance all clearances issued for bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam and East Godavari, as controversies raged regarding the endangered livelihoods of the residents in those regions.
The girijans demanded that both the cases - the bauxite mining and the China clay mining controversies - be solved at the earliest.
Another girijan leader charged that the government was simultaneously threatening and cajoling their community. The authorities had tried to convince them to accept the mining by promising to construct schools and hospitals in exchange.
The protesting tribals clarified that they would not allow the government to trample over them, and that they would offer stiff resistance against mining activities in their region.