On the 13th of September, a huge section of social media users and Tollywood celebrities stood against the Telangana Government’s decision of uranium exploration and mining in Nallamala Forest.
The celebrities and citizens of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh started an online campaign and requested the Nallamala Forest be saved, with #SaveNallamala.
The State Government passed the orders of uranium exploration in the forest, which will lead to the destruction of the forest. The orders about the uranium exploration were issued for establishing a nuclear power generation plant, which will be beneficial for the people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in the future.
According to an environmentalist, the exploration and mining of uranium will lead to pollution and will disrupt the life of the Chenchus, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in the forest.
Since the past few days, social media is flooded with messages expressing concern regarding the Nallamala Forest. Social media users have been demanding the radioactive substance mining in the forest be stopped.
Actors, sportspersons, non governmental organisations (NGOs,) environmentalists and citizens even signed an online petition seeking stay orders on the uranium exploration.
The online petition is addressed to Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India, with a request to look into the issue and save the Nallamala Forest, which is spread in the regions of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
On the 14th of September, K.T. Rama Rao (KTR,) the Municipal Administration and Urban Development and Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Minister of Telangana, finally responded to the requests. He assured to look into the matter and reconsider the issues after having a discussion with K. Chandrashekar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana.
KTR, the Working President of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS,) took to Twitter and said, “I hear all of your concern on the issue of uranium mining in Nallamala forest. Assure you all that I shall personally discuss the matter with Hon’ble CM KCR Garu.”
Twitter is flooded with messages addressing KCR, KTR and the President of India to save the Nallamala Forest.
Nallamala Forest:
1) Won’t Krishna river be affected due to Chemicals?
2) Won’t local Environment be contaminated by uranium mining?
3) Won’t it imperil the Chenchu tribe who lives in Forest?
4) A large part is Tiger Reserve. Won’t it affect the wildlife too?#SaveNallamala
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) September 14, 2019
Telangana has not okayed for Uranium Mining, here are observatns of Field Director
👉🏿user agency wil disturb vegetation
👉🏿It hasn’t specified location of 4000bores
👉🏿May cause destruction of Ecosystem
So Cong stop spreading lies & fight BJP to withdraw.
@KTRTRS #SaveNallamala 🌳 pic.twitter.com/8ttJvsWHSn— krishanKTRS (@krishank9) September 14, 2019
Drop seeds ,not Trees..!! #Nallamala Forest the lungs of A.P&T.G🌳🌳 #SaveNallamala #StopUraniumMining pic.twitter.com/X107NV6qTg
— Tej (@tej_daram) September 14, 2019
The wider Nallamala forests spanning Telangana and Andhra Pradesh make up India’s biggest tiger reserve. There are more than 68 tigers in this region. They’re a keystone species, crucial for the integrity of the entire ecosystem. #SaveNallamala pic.twitter.com/dTWFyAtDDh
— Ram Mohan Naidu K (@RamMNK) September 14, 2019
Do we need development? Yes!! But at what cost? Uranium mining will not only destroy the forest,it will contaminate the soil,flora and fauna..the waste will seep into the rivers and spread for miles & affect thousands of #Indians #SaveNallamala #StopUraniumMining @narendramodi 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/p6thNxyiqi
— Randeep Hooda (@RandeepHooda) September 13, 2019
#SaveNallamala pic.twitter.com/zGEe8fVk6N
— Vijay Deverakonda (@TheDeverakonda) September 12, 2019
Stay tuned for further updates.
