SRIKAKULAM: People’s agitations to protect their lands and livelihoods have been continuing since the advent of capitalism. But what makes the protest against sand mining in the district stand out is the fact that they are mainly being led by women. These women have not just stuck to raising slogans during public hearings but have also resorted to physical violence against their local leaders who, they allege, are trying to sell out on them. The main target of this spewing anger is Trimex Sand Private Limited (TSPL), a part of Trimex Group who have obtained mining lease in an area of 7.2 sq.km in Srikurmam near Srikakulam and propose to undertake sand mining along 193 kilometre of coastline in the district. The company has also set up mining and mineral separation facilities based on the existing Srikurmam deposits to produce heavy minerals like Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Garnet and Sillimanite. The mining lease is distributed to two adjacent deposits - Vatchavalasa and Tonangi. But apart from these minerals, the region is also home to almost 118 fishing villages and almost 4,000 acres of cashew plantations. Farmers in Vajrapu Kotturu and Santa Bommali mandals, where a majority of the cashew plantations are situated, fear that once the company starts its operations, they will lose their farms. Though TSPL assured farmers they would return their land after the mining is completed and also promised financial support to help them re-establish their plantations, farmers are worried that the land would not give the same yield then. The fisherfolk, on the other hand, are worried over the salinity of ground water increasing due to sand mining. Fisherfolk in 14 panchayats also have apprehensions about drinking water becoming scarce since the mining lease for the company is for 30 years. Moreover, there are reservations on the ecological fron too. Environmentalists believe that the project would lead to erosion and pose a threat to Olive Ridley turtles which come to the coast for nesting.At a public hearing held recently on the project, the people expressed these concerns and opposed the projects. Interestingly, it was the women in the area who were the most vocal. They alleged that the company bribed some of the local leaders in the panchayats. Some women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) even physically attacked Manchinnellapeta village MPTC Shanumukha Rao for allegedly accepting a bribe of `4 lakh which, they said, he distributed to other leaders. The SHG members say that it was due to this that the leaders supported sand mining by Trimex during the public hearings. Expecting further attacks, four panchayat leaders have fled from their villages.“Though the company is trying hard to make us believe that no ground water depletion or salinity would take place even after mining for 30 years, we don’t believe them,” locals said.Meanwhile, joint collector E Sridhar, who presided over the public hearing, is readying the final report to be sent to the ministry of environment and forests in Delhi for environmental clearance. The report will be made available in each panchayat office for any one to study it, Sridhar said.When contacted, chief operating officer of TSPL, CHGVK Prasad said the fears of the people are unfounded and that they were being instigated by civil society representatives. “The process of mineral separation does not involve use of chemicals or release of effluents. We are ensuring ecological balance and are also offering a good package to locals. We are also promising employment to the local people,” he said. He denied that the company bribed local leaders.
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