Protesting against the decision of the state government to divert iron ore from the Bayyaram mines to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Telangana Joint Action Committee leaders -- led by its chairman M Kodandram -- launched a bus yatra from Errabelli in Bheemadeverapalli mandal to Bayyaram in Khammam district here on Monday.
They inspected the iron ore hills at Errabelli and later proceeded to Kothapalli and Damera in Elkathurthy mandal. Addressing TJAC activists and others, Kodandaram said that the TJAC would continue its protests till the government cancelled its orders. He explained that the aim of the bus yatra was to create awareness among the people about the abundance of iron ore in Telangana. He demanded that the government should set up a steel plant in Telangana and provide jobs to the local people. Kodandaram accused chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of deliberately diverting the iron ore from Gudur in Warangal district and Damera, Errabelli, Kotthapalli in Karimangar and Bayyaram in Khammam district. He said that once the Telangana state was formed, the region’s resources would be protected.
As part of its protests, the TJAC will conduct a ‘Chalo Assembly’ programme soon and submit a memorandum to the government to protect the rights of the tribals.
‘Bayyaram Ukku-Telangana Hakku’ slogans rented the air at the meeting and during the yatra.
TRS leaders Eetela Rajender and B Vinod Kumar, BJP Leader Meesa Arjun Rao, New Democracy Party leader Govardhan and several TJAC leaders were present.