Betray with Orissa, but still silent

IN CASE OF POSCO


In yet another setback to South Korean steel maker Posco’s Rs54,000 crore plant in Orissa, the environment ministry asked the state government to stop the land acquisition process for the project.

“The government of Orissa shall take all necessary measures and ensure that work, if any, being undertaken on the said land, for the said project, including handing over of the forest and non-forest land to the said project, shall be stopped forthwith,” the ministry said in its directive.

Posco, the world’s fourth largest steel producer, signed a deal with the state government in June 2005 to build a plant near Paradip port in the coastal district of Jagatsinghpur by 2016. The project has already been delayed for at least two years due to local protests.

On 4 August, a panel set up by the ministries of environment and tribal affairs submitted a report on the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA), for acquisition of land for the project.

The committee found that “any work related to the project in this area, such as what has been reportedly started on 27 July 2010, is a violation of the FRA.” The environment ministry had approved of the project on condition that forest rights of inhabitants are ensured before land was acquired for the project.

FRA gives rights of forest resources to tribals and other forest dwellers residing in India’s forests. Any project requiring such land also needs the consent of the local village councils.

The joint committee also said forest clearance given by the environment ministry in December should be revoked. Order said it appeared the district administration was proceeding with acquiring forest land where the locals cultivate betel leaves.



BUT, IN CASE OF POLAVARAM

The central environment and forests ministry gave the final clearance for diversion of 3,731.07 hectares of forest land last month for the Polavaram project .

While granting the approval, the ministry has totally ignored the interest of Orissa.

Orissa government moved the Supreme Court after the ministry first granted interim approval to the project in 2008. When the case is still pending in the court, it is surprising how the ministry granted final approval.

It is also surprising the way the clearance was given without consulting the people in Orissa and Chhattisgarh who would be affected by the project.

Polavaram is Rs.10,150-crore project will produce 960 MW of power and give industry 23,500 million cubic feet of water for Andra Pradesh only.

Chhattisgarh and Orissa fear that after completion of the project, in case of floods, the back water of the Godavari will flow to its tributaries Saberi and Sileru in Orissa and Chhattisgarh and submerge dozens of bordering villages.