Hyderabad, Jan 11 (IANS): Maoists Wednesday urged legislators in Andhra Pradesh to pass a resolution opposing the proposed bauxite mining in tribal areas.
The banned Communist Party of India-Maoist has put up banners and posters and distributed pamphlets in some villages of Choudupalli tribal area asking the legislators to oppose bauxite mining.
The Maoists conveyed their message on a day when Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was to join the state's legislators in Araku Valley. Their tour is aimed at getting first hand knowledge of tribal issues.
The chief minister, who flew to Visakhapatnam from Hyderabad, might have to cancel his visit to Araku Valley due to bad weather.
About 100 first-time members of the legislative assembly and council are attending the programme under the leadership of assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar.
Maoists along with various people's organisations and environmentalists have been supporting the ongoing movement by tribals against bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam district in north coastal Andhra.
They allege that the project would displace the tribals, affect their livelihood and harm the environment.
The issue of bauxite mining was discussed on the second day of the study tour by the legislators. A section of legislators lambasted government officials for going ahead with the mining despite opposition from people.
Some legislators from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) boycotted the power-point presentation made by officials of Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corp (APMDC) on bauxite mining.
Educationist and member of council Chukka Ramaiah raised objection to the claim by APMDC managing director Mukesh Kumar Meena that bauxite mining was meant to develop the tribal areas.
People's opposition to bauxite mining had last month forced a central committee of experts to cancel its visit to tribal areas to conduct public hearing.
The APMDC proposes to take up bauxite mining in tribal areas under the memorandums of understanding signed by the government with Anrak Alumina and Jindal companies.