Malkangiri: Villagers Protest Over Mining Lease For Stone Quarry

Malkangiri: People from several villages in Malkangiri district staged a protest against the proposal to grant mining lease to a firm from Andhra Pradesh for a stone quarry at Amakunda village under the Khairaput block on Wednesday.

Denizens from as many as seven panchayats gathered at Amakunda and protested over the proposed project alleging that it will jeopardise their lives.

They submitted memorandums to the Tehsildar at Khairaput and the Malkangiri Collector urging the immediate cancellation of the lease. They also served an ultimatum that the administration will be responsible for the inconveniences if the proposal was not withdrawn.

“Tribal people depend on the forest for their livelihood. People across the globe come here to witness the bounties of nature. If stones are dug out from here, it will destroy the flora and fauna. Our livelihood will also be at stake,” said one of the protestors.

“Stone mafia from Andhra Pradesh have applied for the lease of hundreds of acres of land here. But we strongly protest against their sinister plans and urge the government to cancel the lease immediately,” another protestor said.

[caption id="attachment_481723" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Locals submit memorandum to Khairaput Tehsildar[/caption]