VHR against mining rights to private parties

ARAKU VALLEY (VISAKHAPATNAM):  Terming mines as natural property of locals and the government, senior Congress leader and MP V Hanumantha Rao has said some unscrupulous rich persons are looting the mines by proxy at the cost of tribals. It is thus the duty of the government to safeguard mines and protect locals' interests, he has said.A team of four Telangana Congress leaders headed by Rao visited the proposed bauxite, calcite and mica mining areas in Anantagiri mandal on Tuesday and interacted with tribal people as part of their Jana Jagruti programme.Hanumantha Rao and government whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that if the mines worth around Rs 15 lakh crore in the Agency were allotted to private firms  the tribals would not benefit, rather they would lose their livelihood. The tribals told the Telangana leaders that they would permit mining in the area only if the government allotted the mines to the Girijan Corporation. Rao said tribals would suffer if the mines were allotted to private parties.