Vijayawada: The AP government would arrange complete civic infrastructure for the seven villages around the uranium plant in Tummalapalli village of Vemulapalli Mandal in Kadapa district. The company would also support this initiative.
Stating this here on Thursday, Chief Secretary K.S. Jawahar Reddy said this is apart from supporting the farmers who have given land to the uranium plant.
The chief secretary reviewed various issues related to the uranium plant at a meeting he held at his camp office with the director of the Uranium Corporation of India (UCIL), C.K. Asnani, and officials of the concerned departments.
Jawahar Reddy said, “It is the government's responsibility to fully support the farmers who have given land for the plant to extract uranium for the country's nuclear needs. Seven villages -- namely Velpula, Mabbu Chintalapalli, Rachakuntapalli, Bhumaiyagaripalli, Thummalapalli, KK Kotla, and Kaanam -- are to have large-scale infrastructure.
He discussed issues such as job creation for the families who have given land for the plant, expansion of the plant, measures to control pollution, adequate facilities in terms of drinking water, education, medicine, animal husbandry, road facilities, and plant breeding with the help of CSR funds from the company.
Jawahar Reddy said the people of the villages are seeking a central school and a multi-speciality hospital specifically for these villages and a veterinary doctor.
‘The Kadapa district collector as well as secretaries of education, medical, and animal husbandry departments have been asked by the CS to submit a report in these respects.
The chief secretary said he would also write to the central government and the board at the central level on behalf of the state government, regarding further expansion of the plant and relaxation of some conditions.
Jawahar Reddy suggested to the UCIL officials that they are ready to cooperate in holding a public hearing in the respective villages.
UCIL chairman Asanani said that in 2022-23, on behalf of the company’s CSR funds, more than Rs 2 crore has been spent in seven villages. Steps were being taken to create various infrastructures. Funds of Rs 35 lakh have been provided to improve the medical facilities in villages.
Gopalakrishna Dwivedi, special principal secretary to agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries department, Pravin Prakash, PS to education department, Anil Kumar, CEO of Pulivendula area development authority, industries secretary Yuvraj, finance secretary Dr N. Gulzar, State Pollution Control Board member B. Sridhar and other officials, along with farmers of seven villages who have given land to the uranium plant participated in the meeting.
