Save Nallamala Forest: Damages Caused by Uranium Mining Nallamala forest is a part of the Eastern Ghats. It is located in the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. They keep running in an about north-south arrangement, parallel to the Coromandel Coast for near 430 km between the waterways, Krishna and Penna rivers. Nallamala is a one of the famous tourist place for two Telugu states, and also called the lungs of Telugu states. The famous Hindu temple, Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple or Srisailam Temple located near to Nallamala forest. It is the one of the only three temples in India in which both Jyotirlinga and Shaktipeeth is revered. Krishna River is one of Notable Rivers in India, its flow through the Nallamala forest. Upon the Krishna river two main dams are constructed those are Srisailam dam and Nagarjuna Sagar dam these two dams are generating major part of electricity in two Telugu states.
Nallamala range having a number of temples and tourist places especially, Mahanadi temple and Ahobilam Nava Narsimha Temples are situated here. The Mallela Theertham waterfall on the river Krishna is also located in Nallamala forest. The indigenous population consists of the Chenchus, a forest dwelling tribe who have remained cut off from the modern world even today. Agriculture is the primary occupation of the Chenchus people in the plateaus while the Chenchus are not mixed with other people they have their own traditions and culture, they are living far from society. Chenchus people not much civilized, recent activities the changes will started but few are still hunter gatherers. The hills were a hotbed of Naxal activities until recently. In the Nallamala forest nearly 12000 Chenchus populations are there and 70 types of animals, 300 types of birds, 60 types of snakes, 600 types of plants are surviving.
Recently Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) in conducting uranium survey in the Nallamala forests and they were submitted report to central government regarding uranium sources in Nallamala forest. Actually UCIL from 2008 to 2012 nearly 400 bore holes are drilled and send that sand samples to labs, in that process people opposing and stop the work, further researches they are find uranium storages under amrabad Mandal. It invaded around 23 kilometres the amrabad region.
Central government ready to starting mining and thought to have generated atomic electricity. A lot of people, organizations, celebrities, social activists, environmental scientists and professors are opposing the uranium mining project in Nallamala Forest. Uranium: Uranium is a chemical element also called as yellow cake, denoting symbol is U and atomic number is 92. It is silver grey colour metal placed in the actinide series on the periodic table. Uranium contains the same count of protons and electrons that is 92. Uranium showing weakly radioactive nature because all isotopes of uranium are unstable. Natural uranium consists 3 types of isotopes: uranium-238, uranium-235, and uranium-234.
Harmful Effects of Uranium Mining:
Uranium placed in the underground not a problem when we take out from the underground it immediately mix with oxygen changed the oxygen as oxides. The species of uranium chemicals stored in environment long time, so it travels through air and water reached human and animals in human’s uranium chemicals stored in bones then showing the reactions like cancers. Uranium decreases or inhabits the sperm count and in females destroying the ovulation process due to that reproduction will stop. Plants are taking the uranium and stored in roots part, if taking that product that stored chemical transfers to humans and animals it’s dangerous for health. Uranium's main target is kidneys. Kidney damage has been seen in humans and animals after inhaling or ingesting uranium Uranium mining results in "the unavoidable radioactive contamination of the environment by solid, liquid and gaseous wastes". Inhalation of radon gas caused sharp increases in lung cancers. Mining destroying the Amrabad Tiger Reserve which is home to a vast variety of wildlife because deep drilling is required for uranium mining.
Dindi and nallavagu these two rivers are floating near to the mining area that the two rivers mix with Krishna River and Krishna river supply the drinking water to Hyderabad and other districts. Mining time that chemical particles travelled and mix with water and air, especially Krishna river flow through the mining area, Krishna water is the main sources of drinking and agricultural sectors, if it mixes with the Krishna water surrounding areas are damaged. Mining area surrounding floating rivers, lakes and ponds are contaminated from mining dust and chemicals, so water creatures are destroyed and that water will pass through Telangana, Andhra Pradesh state areas and finally mixed in Bay of Bengal, usually radiation spread through water in other places and polluting the environment. Animals and plants are killed by radiation and exposing the radiation is may lead to lung cancer and skin cancers.
Cautioned against this move, noting that rare, endangered and unique species of flora and fauna will be destroyed. The exploration will expose and pollute surface water, groundwater and leach minerals and dangerous chemicals into the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar Dams. Nallamala one biggest biodiversity area of Eastern Ghats, if mining started different types of People who are leaving the area of Nallamala attacked by many diseases and birth rate will decrease, and body parts are damaged. Around 50,000 villagers who live in this area suffer from serious radiation related health problems and the mines in East Singhbhum district have been found to be conducting their mining operations without adequate safety measures. The storage and management wastage of uranium is very difficult, because the wastage material more in uranium production if not stored properly, radiation will release automatically and cancer will attack around areas.
Conclusion:
Finally, many sources are available for generating the electricity, mandatory to mine the uranium and producing the electricity, it’s not safe and recommended thing for ecosystems because it will damage the delicate ecology of the region. Now is time for builds the forest for present and future generations, but where deforestation is taking the place that will make threat to near future. The government should implement the other methods for generating the electricity and developing the solar energy because sun main safe source for solar power. Destroying scarce water bodies and entire ecosystems can hardly be compensated by uranium mining which can be excavated in other parts of the country. Mining in Nallamala is not acceptable project that impact shows many years in the surrounding environment, government makes a correct decision on it. Nallamala providing the revenue to both Telugu states in different ways, like tourism, forest products, temples, etc. mining project reduces the revenue levels in Telugu states. Increase the area of forest and automatically rainfall percentage is increased. Save the environment and avoid the manual and atomic radiation.
Feels great to read article like this. This kind of positive concern towards forest is the needed everywhere .
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