'Bauxite mining not to affect GI status for coffee: Minister

Hyderabad, Aug 22 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh today said that bauxite mining in Visakhapatnam would not affect the Geographic Indication (GI) status for Anantagiri Coffee in the district, as feared by the tribals.

Talking to newspersons here after signing two MoUs between ITDA Paderu, Visakhapatnam District with Nandi Foundation and another with ITDA Rampachadovaram in East Godavari District Mr Jairam said there would be no effect on the environment, if the baxute mining was done as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court.

The Minister said he did not want to comment on the technical aspects of the bauxite mining. However, through the regulatory measures in the mining, development could be taken up and the GI status for the Anantagiri coffee could be protected without any effect on the environment in the area, he added.

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