The Centre will not give permission for mining activities in tribal areas in the country.

Union Minister of Tribal Welfare and Panchayat Raj V Kishore Chandra Suryanarayana Deo said this in Visakhapatnam yesterday.

Addressing a press conference he said the tribal lands cannot be converted into non-tribal activities and as of now the government has not given permission for mining in tribal areas to any company in the country.

The Union Minister said that it is compulsory to conduct Gram Sabhas to pass any resolution to take up any work in tribal areas.