A ROUND table conference was organised on July 28, 2019 in Sundarayya Vignana Kendram against extraction of Uranium in Amrabad region in Nallamala forest. State secretaries of CPI, CPI(M) and other Left leaders along with many other intellectuals and scientists and environmentalists participated in the discussion. They demanded that extraction of Uranium be stopped forthwith. Later speaking in the conference, CPI(M) state secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram said, that apart from 72,000 people of 42 villages, of Amrabad mandals becoming homeless, thousands of  years old bio-diversity in Nallamala forest will also become extinct.  In the past when there was power shortage, there was digging for the sake of nuclear power, but now the country is surplus in power and the extraction of uranium is not necessary. At present in the country 6,780 megawatt atomic power is being produced, the central government wants to raise it to 22,000 megawatt and that attempt will lead to destruction of human habitat, he said.

The productive cost of atomic power is between Rs 30 to 50, and when power is available for Rs 5-6, in the market, going for atomic power is waste of people’s money. The argument that it is for the needs of defence is not truthful, as there are enough reserves of Uranium in the country for defence purposes, the experts pointed out. The affects of extraction of Uranium on human health will be felt around 150 km and the radiation will affect South Telangana, and North Andhra and there is a fear that people will be exposed that may lead to diseases like cancer and other kidney related diseases.  Krishna River, which is flowing adjacent to this region, will be polluted and drinking water supplied from this river to Hyderabad and Chennai will be badly affected.

In the first week of August with the participation of local people a united struggle will be taken up and the chief minister will also be asked to join the struggle in the interests of the people. CPI state secretary, Chada Venkata Reddy criticising the liberalisation policies said, capitalists are exploiting natural resources in the name of mining. In the past when atomic plant was planned near Nagarjuna Sagar, because of people’s resistance it was withdrawn. CPI(ML) New Democracy leader-Govardhan, MCPI leader-Upender Reddy Rama, nuclear scientist- Dr Narasimha Reddy, atomic scientist-Baburao and environmentalist-Purushottama Reddy, prominent geologist- Dr BV Subbarao, and writer-Jayadhir Tirumala Rao also spoke. It was presided by CPI(M) state secretariat member DG Narasimha Rao.

Already there were nuclear accidents in the world; in Japan’s Fukushima, and Chernobyl in Russia. These incidents of nuclear exposure led to great losses in human health. Similar experience was there in AP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Gujarat and West Bengal. Even though the people are opposing atomic plants, state and central governments are still continuing extractions. In the country, the Uranium Corporation of India Limited is spending Rs 1.6 lakh crore for 13 mines. To increase the production of Uranium, four times to the present output, these mines are being used. One of these is in Chitrial (Nalgonda) and another one in Mannanur-Srisailam forests.

The Uranium mines and the programme of atomic power production have adverse effects on forests and natural resources. Already the people of mining region face diseases due to radiation affected water and are suffering because of it. In the last 10 years in Tummalapalle mine in the Kadapa district in AP, the destruction is going on. Even though the people are opposing these projects the extraction of uranium is going on. In the name of defence oriented projects, local authorities are also helplessly keeping quiet.

Many medicinal plants, trees are going to be destroyed.  The round table feels that tigers’ reserve forest in Amrabad’s existence will be in question. This round table is appealing to both state and central governments to stop the extraction of Uranium in these forests immediately. In this agitation, Left parties, democratic persons, intellectuals opposing atomic plants, NGOs and people from different walks of life should participate. It gives a call for the Amrabad Mandal people to participate in the many-sided agitations to stop the Uranium extraction.

Earlier the CPI(M) team toured in Udimilla, Beekay Thirumalapuram in Amrabad Mandals in Nagarkurnool district. Speaking on this occasion, Purushothama Reddy the environment scientist said that the multinational companies are looking at the thick Nallamala forests and are trying to loot the rich mine deposits. If the village sabhas do not pass resolutions against the extraction, there is a chance for state and central governments directly undertaking extraction. He expressed concern over the Krishna water being supplied to Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, which is likely to get polluted. He warned that nuclear radiation will spread around 200 km from the place where Uranium is extracted and dug. The CPI(M) state secretariat members D G Narasimha Rao and John Wesley, along with other research scholars also participated.