Bauxite Mining in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, Possible Environmental Implications and Measures for Environmentally Friendly Mining

India is blessed with huge resources of bauxite distributed in different states of the country. Out of these deposits, the bauxite resources found in Eastern Ghats especially in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are known for their quality and quantity. The state of Andhra Pradesh is estimated to be having bauxite resources of nearly one thousand million tons and make the state as a 2nd largest resource base for bauxites in India. Recent policy of the government of Andhra Pradesh is to open up bauxite mining in the Eastern Ghat terrain. This raised a controversy, since the local tribes and some NGOs are strongly opposing such mining, with apprehension of impacts on environment, including pollution of waters bodies, pollution of soil, deforestation causing effects on rare flora and fauna etc. They have further objections on the mining activity, since they felt, that it may affect the very culture of the native tribes, their life style their resources etc. Under this context this paper is attempted to present the possible impacts of mining in case of active mining initiatives of bauxite in this region. It further examines the peoplesapprehensions related to impacts on environment and tribal socioeconomic and cultural implications. An attempt is made to suggest the possible remedial measures for environmentally friendly mining of these resources with minimum impact on the environment including the sensitive forest cover, land, water, tribal culture etc.