Tribals protest against mining in agency areas

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VISAKHAPATNAM: Demanding cancellation of the proposed mining of calcite and mica in around 200 acres in the scheduled areas, 400 tribals on Monday staged a protest in front of the Mandal Revenue Office at Anantagiri in the district.Tribal Union leaders said as per the Panchayatiraj Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA), not a cent of land could be taken for any purpose without the approval of the Grama Sabha (village council) through public hearing. Also, the mandal-level officer has to give a no objection certificate. But the officials, with the support of political leaders, have been granting leases by issuing  certificates as per the Government order. Although, technically, the leases are in the name of tribals, it is the non-tribals who are availing the leases, they alleged.Some of the protestors alleged that Araku MLA Siveri Soma and his son S Ambedkar were behind the determined effort to mine calcite and mica in the mandal ignoring the tribals' opposition and environmental concerns.As per the 1/70 Act, no lease or sale to a private individual or a corporate house in agency areas is valid.