Doubts raised over timing of Adani’s Rs 100 cr donation to CM Revanth

Questions are being raised about the timing of Adani Group's Rs. 100 crore funding to Congress's Young India Skill University, just ahead of the public hearing for Ambuja Cement's factory in Ramannapet.

Hyderabad: Doubts are being raised about the timing of the Rs.100 crore funding from the Adani Group to the Congress government’s Young India Skill University, just ahead of the public hearing of the Adani Group-owned Ambuja Cement’s standalone factory at Ramannapet in Yadadri Bhongir district on October 23. The establishment of the cement factory is being opposed by the locals which has been widely reported in vernacular and national media ever since the government gave its green signal for the public hearing last month.

Ambuja Cement recently submitted a proposal to the State government, seeking permission to set up a grinding unit at Ramannapet on 70 acres, with a project cost of Rs 1,400 crore. This will produce around 60 lakh metric tonnes of cement per annum. This was being planned on a portion of the 360 acres that was procured from farmers in Ramannapet and surrounding villages for the establishment of a dry port a few years ago.

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As per norms, the Pollution Control Board is scheduled to conduct a public hearing on October 23 regarding the proposed cement factory, for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). All stakeholders have been asked to submit their objections and suggestions before October 21, i.e. withing 30 days period from the date of publication of the notification for public hearing. However, the proposal for the cement factory sparked an uproar among locals who fear the factory will cause pollution that could harm air quality, water sources, and agricultural lands. They fear that the toxic gases expected to be emitted by the factory could impact residents in the surrounding villages.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy‘s ambitious Musi River rejuvenation project also faces threat from the cement factory which is located just 14 km from the proposed factory site. The locals fear that people living along the Musi River were already facing health issues due to contaminated water, and the proposed factory is likely to worsen the situation. Farmers also fear that fertile agricultural lands in the surrounding villages also would turn into wastelands due to the factory.

Meanwhile, BRS working president KT Rama Rao questioned the timing of Gautam Adani’s meeting with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Friday and handing over a cheque of Rs 100 crore to the Young India Skill University. He took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who recently coined “Modani” to explain an alleged nexus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Adani.

“Well done Rahul Gandhi. Official donation of 100 Cr from Adani. What to call this? RaGadani or Revdani? What kind of “Skills” are we talking about Rahul Gandhi, (sic)” he asked.

Several BRS leaders including Krishank Manne felt that it was a case of classic Congress corruption, with certain Congress-supported media publishing news against the Adani cement plant. Shortly thereafter some Congress leaders receive representations to stop Adani plant in Yadadri Bhongir district. And then Congress CM receives Rs 100 cr from Adani.

“Line clear for Public Hearing on Adani Cement Plant,’ (sic) he posted.