Locals protest KK open-cast mine

Villagers from Erraguntapalle in Mandamarri, who have been fighting against the proposed Kalyanikhani open-cast mine for years, will now approach the Green Tribunal of Chennai to express their objections to the project.

The villagers alleged that the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is taking up open-cast mine works in violation of the High Court stay orders.

Nearly 40 villages in Mandamarri and Kasiept mandals are affected by the proposed plan.

Protesting farmers held a relay hunger strike that entered its 735th day on Tuesday.

Recently, the High Court has issued stay orders on the KK opencast works. The villagers of Erraguntapalle allege that the Singareni management has begun ‘earthen’ works related to the KK open-cast mine, violating the court stay orders.

Many villages, including Peddanapalli, Gonduguda, Kasipeta, Dubbagudem, Somagudem, Lambadi Thanda, Sandranopad, Chinna Dharmaram and Pedda Dharmaram are being affected in Mandamarri and Kasipet mandals of Mancherial.

Gadanaveni Buchanna, convener of the ‘Kalyanikhani open-cast Vyathireka Porata Committee’, said they will file a petition in the Green Tribunal of Chennai opposing the KK open-cast mine soon and would also be filing a writ petition in the High Court in violation of stay orders by the SCCL.

The Adivasis of the area alleged that the SCCL is trying to establish the Kalyanikhani open-cast mine, violating the PESA and 1/70 Acts and also without holding gram sabhas in villages that would be affected.

Erraguntapelle and other villages’ residents obstructed the earthen works taken up by the SCCL at the proposed site of Kalyanikhani open-cast mine recently. They say that SCCL managements are trying to misguide people by creating a scene and by beginning works over there.

The SCCL management say that they have taken up works in the Singareni land and have not entered agriculture lands to be acquired for the open-cast mine.