[Posted below is an appeal from the Movement Against Uranium Project
(MAUP) in Andhra Pradesh along with the latest news reports]
o o o
Dear All
I am sending you a appeal from MAUP spearheading the campaign against
the proposed nalgonda uranium project. As all of are aware this was
set aside in august 2003 due to popular protest against it. Now the
Govt is pushing it again please read below the appeal from MAUP and
send your endorsements or email the protest letter(Attached) to the
concerned officers listed at the end of the letter.
Regards
Ravi
Samata/mm&P
APPEAL from MAUP:-
Dear AntiUranium activists
As you already know, an Environmental Public Hearing(EPH) is proposed
by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board(APPCB) to be held at
Seripally village of Devarkonda mandal in Nalgonda district of Andhra
Pradesh State on 3-3-2005 at 11 AM, to elicit Public Opinion on the
proposed Uranium Processing Plant in Seripally village by UCIL.
We hope that all of you are going to attend the EPH and oppose it so
that UCIL would give it up once for all.
We also seek your considered opinion on the idea of petitioning the
PM, the President, the CJI and Human Rights Commission to institute
an Inquiry headed by a sitting Supreme Court Judge and consisting of
experts in the field of Nuclear Medicine, Oncology, Ionising
Radiation and Social & Environmental Sciences, to go into all
matters, especially health problems, pertaining to Jadugoda and its
environs, where UCIL has been operating for the last four decades.
We can also send, alongwith the petition, the CD showing the Jadugoda
episode (Radiating Lies) aired recently by Headlines Today & Aaj Tak
TV channels, in which blatant voilations and denials by UCIL and the
disaster visiting Jadugoda were aired, in detail.
As a matter of precaution, the UCIL can be asked/ordered by these
Institutions to suspend all its(UCIL's) operations, including EPH at
Seripally of AP, pending completion of the proposed Inquiry
Commission.
We have to act fast, if we decide to go ahead with the petitioning,
as the EPH day is fast approaching.
Hoping to receiving an early response from you
Conveners
Capt Rama Rao & Dr. Satyalakshmi
o o o o
To,
The Member Secretary,
AP Pollution Control Board,
Paryavaran Bhavan,
A-3, Industrial Estate, Sanathnagar
Hyderabad -500 018
Sir,
Sub:- Uranium Mining in the close vicinity of Nagarjuna Sagar Reservoir
- Right to Information & Transparency
We wish to bring to your kind notice
that two Environmental Public Hearings (EPH) were held on 19 th
August 2003 at Peddagattu and P A Pally, regarding the proposed UCIL
projects for Uranium Mining at Lambapur-Peddagattu and the Uranium
Processing Plant at Mallapurm-Dugyala of PA Pally Mandal in
Nallagonda district.
The Movement Against Uranium Project
(MAUP) and many other organizations and individuals from all over the
country orally and in writing raised various objections against the
proposed projects. The local population overwhelmingly opposed and
vociferously expressed against both the Uranium Mining and Processing
projects during the Public Hearings.
The public has an important role to play
in EIA process and the agencies concerned are obliged to respond to
issues and concerns raised during public hearing. and convey back to
the public the decisions taken. But unfortunately the public, to
date, has not been informed about the final decision taken regarding
the above projects and whether their objections have been considered.
This only indicates denial of information to the public, lack of
transparency and utter disregard to the public opinion, on the part
of the State Administration.
In the absence of any information even
after one and half years since EPHs were held and the Notification
issued by APPCB to conduct EPH on 3 rd March 2005 in respect of UCIL
proposal to relocate the Uranium Processing Plant to a new site at
Seripally village, Devarakonda Mandal, it is logical to conclude that
UCIL is going ahead with Uranium Mining Project at
Lambapur-Peddagattu of PA Pally Mandal abutting Nagarjuna Sagar
Reservoir.
The UCIL is reported to have proposed to
relocate Uranium Processing Plant to a new site at Seripally village,
Devarakonda Mandal, keeping in mind the Supreme Court judgment on the
water reservoirs of Gandipet and Himayatsagar, as the originally
proposed site at Mallapurm- Dugyala of PA Pally Mandal, falls within
the 10 km radius of Nagarjuna Sagar Reservoir which is also a
drinking water source for the city of Hyderabad
-2-
It is of significance to note that Lambapur and
Peddagattu plateau regions, with maximum and minimum elevation at 340
mRL on the west and 240 mRL on the east respectively are right
above Nagarjuna Sagar Reservoir, and the area at extreme south and
east is predominantly occupied by Reservoir limits of Nagarjuna
Sagar, with maximum water level at 180 mRL. The general drainage of
the area from all sides is towards Nagarjuna Sagar and a number of
ephemeral streams flow down to Nagarjuna Sagar from plateau regions.
. Therefore, how can the Uranium Mining Project at
Lambapur-Peddagattu plateau, which is of hazardous nature and
abutting Nagarjuna Sagar Reservoir limits as stated above, can be
permitted in violation of the Supreme Court judgment and the
Precautionary Principle which is universally accepted ? The Supreme
Court, in its judgment has clearly established that the right to
access safe drinking water is fundamental to life and it is a duty on
the State, under Art 21 of the Constitution, to provide clean
drinking water to its citizens.
It is therefore requested that before going
ahead with the proposed EPH on 3 rd March 2005, the public be
informed whether UCIL was granted permission for the Mining Project
or not ? In case the Mining project is cleared, the public has the
right to know, how their fundamental right to safe drinking water
free from radionuclide contamination from Nagarjuna Sagar Reservoir
is taken care of, with Uranium Mining taking place right abutting the
Reservoir ?
. It is requested that the proposed EPH scheduled
to be held on 3 rd March regarding relocation of Uranium Processing
Plant, be kept in abeyance till the above clarifications are given.
Yours Sincerely,
(Your name / organization)
Copy to: 1) The Secretary , MOE&F, GOI [EMAIL PROTECTED]
2) Chief Minister, AP Govt [EMAIL PROTECTED]
3) Chief Secretary, AP Govt. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
4) Principal Secretary
Dept of Env. & Forest, AP Govt. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
5) Member Secretary APPCB [EMAIL PROTECTED]
______
The Hindu - March 03, 2005
http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/03/stories/2005030312110300.htm
Andhra Pradesh
UCIL under fire
Surendra Gadekar and Sanghamitra of Sampurna Kranti Vidyalaya,
Gujarat, visited the UCIL mining site at Peddagattu on Wednesday.
Speaking to The Hindu on their return from the area, the couple took
exception to the UCIL's move to take up the project without going for
a health study.
``The UCIL is in the habit of arguing that there is no health hazard
due to the project. If we complete a health survey before
establishing the plant, it will help us to make a comparison at a
later stage,'' they said expressing their opposition to the mining of
uranium.
Dr. Surendra, who did a survey on the radiation levels at Jaduguda,
alleged that the UCIL was least bothered about locals, its employees
and officers. They couple found fault with the Atomic Energy
Commission's "desperate attempt'' to extract uranium from all
available sources. Activists of Movement Against Uranium Project --
Kishan Rao and Ambika -- accompanied the couple.
_____
The Hindu - March 03, 2005
http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/03/stories/2005030312200300.htm
Stage set for public hearing on proposed uranium plant
By Our Staff Reporter
DEVARAKONDA (NALGONDA DT, ). MARCH 2. The stage is set for Thursday's
public hearing on the Rs. 372-crore uranium processing plant proposed
to be constructed at Seripally in Devarkonda mandal by the Uranium
Corporation of India Limited.
The Jana Vignana Vedika and the Movement Against Uranium Project have
made all-out efforts to mobilise public opinion against the plant,
which according to them can pose a great risk for local people. The
UCIL is countering the argument with the help of those who were taken
for a field visit to its main plant at Jaduguda in Jharkhand.
The UCIL has been broadcasting video clippings containing the
versions of the 30-odd locals, who spoke for the project on their
return from Jaduguda, in Siticable. According to sources, an UCIL
official met them a couple of times in the last week to impress upon
them to mobilise tribals in favour of the plant during the public
hearing.
Meanwhile, the irate villagers of Seripally allegedly burnt down UCIL
posters after preventing its supporters from entering into their
village last evening. Following the incident, the Pollution Control
Board is said to have decided to organise the public hearing near the
main road, not in Seripally village as was announced by it in its
notification. A large number of policemen are drawn to deploy in and
around the venue suspecting trouble from the villagers.
In an attempt to educate people on the ill-effects of uranium, the
JVV activists staged street plays and asked people to participate in
the public hearing in large numbers. The Lions Club also extending
support to the movement against the plant.
However, A. Madhusudan Rao, the UCIL official, who was at Devarakonda
yesterday said: "Opposition from locals is a common thing for any big
project. While 90 per cent people support it, the remaining 10 per
cent will always oppose it.''
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