CPM demands wants Govt to "stop privatisation at cost of tribals"

Hyderabad, Apr 25 (UNI) Contending that entrustment of the 3 MW Seeleru Mini Hydel power project to a private investor was allegedly in ''violation'' of the constitutional protection given to the tribals, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), a poll ally of the Congress, today urged the Rajasekhara Reddy Government to cancel the order and award the Rs 10 crore project to the TRIPCO.

''So far in all the nine agency areas put together, not not a single permission was has been granted to private investors. If a beginning is made, the TRIPCO will have to be closed down and the Schedule V area will lose its constitutional protection, throwing the interests of tribals to wind'', he claimed in a letter to Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

According to G.O 34 of 2004, there was no no scope for taking up of projects in tribal areas by private investors, he claimed in the letter, a copy of which was released to the press here. Under LTR Act of 1/70 sale or lease of tribal land was prohibited, he observed.

He demanded that the Government to cancel the permission granted to the private investor and entrust the project to the TRIPCO to facilitate implemntation of the project by tribals on the lines of hydel power units in Addateegala Mandal.

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