Medha Patkar praises Odisha’s stand on Polavaram issue

BHUBANESWAR: “The legitimate stand of the Odisha and Chhatisgarh Government against the displacement of their people and environment is absolutely correct,” said Environmental activist and national convener of the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) Medha Patkar while addressing the activists of the State in the State-level meet of her organisation here on Saturday.

“If the affected people oppose the projects like Sardar Sarovar dam, Brahmaputra dam and Polavaram dam, the Government calls the people’s movement as anti-development forces, but is it correct to destroy the environment, livelihood and rights of the common people in the name of development,” Patkar said.

The proposed project would displace 276 villages spread across three districts of Andhra Pradesh among which 50 per cent tribal villages belong to tribals. Even some villages of Odisha and some tribal pockets of Chhatishgarh would be submerged, she said adding, the Chhatisgarh Government should come forward to fight for the displaced people and their environment like Odisha Government.

The displaced people of Andhra Pradesh along with Odisha and Chhatisgarh people are strongly protesting the mega project. The tribals and other affected people of Andhra Pradesh are not getting their rights as the pro-Polavaram forces try to purchase the protesters, the political leaders are changing their stand in protecting the rights of the people and they give false assurance of rehabilitation, even the Government violates the PESA Act by avoiding Gramsabha’s decision in this matter which is very unfortunate, she added.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s stand on the issue is appreciable, but he should take some steps in other projects inside his States which is anti-people, Patkar said adding, “If Naveen would not take his stands in the case of Posco, Sterlite, Lower Suktel and other State projects, we take his company-love attitude and corruption to the streets.”

On land acquisition process and its legality, Patkar said the Central Government is all set to come with a Bill to bring reformation in the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 framed by the British rulers. The Parliament Standing Committee wants to bring some changes due to pressure from the corporate houses, but we would strongly protest the act of diluting the Bill, she added.

“We have been opposing the Government’s illegal acquisition process for corporate houses which is anti-people in general. If 80 per cent people give their consent for the land acquisition process, the company can acquire the land otherwise not,” she said.