Andhra rolls out red carpet for Vedanta varsity

Going by the recent news, it seems Orissa has been in the receiving end when it comes to development is concerned. Be it denial of Environmental clearance to Niyamgiri Bauxite mining by MoEF or denial to POSCO, the sufferer would be the people of Orissa, which is a tribal dominated state. How long will the tribal people live without education, without proper health care facility, without proper infrastructure?

The recent news, published in Business-Standard on December 10, 2010 by Kalpana Pathak says Andhra Pradesh is keen to have Vedanta University.

Andhra rolls out red carpet for Vedanta varsity

Kalpana Pathak / Mumbai, December 10, 2010

The Andhra Pradesh government has rolled out a red carpet for the Anil Agarwal Foundation’s proposed Rs 15,000-crore Vedanta University project, after the Orissa High Court termed the land acquisition process illegal for the multi-disciplinary university in Puri.
In a letter to Anil Agarwal, chairman and founder of Vedanta Resources, K Rosaiah, then chief minister of the state, said, “Andhra Pradesh strongly believes in nurturing great institutions of learning to empower youth, realise demographic dividend in full measure and to truly make the state a global center of learning.”
Despite Rosaiah resigning last month, state government officials say the state is keen on Vedanta considering their proposal. “Even if Rosaiah resigned, we still have a Congress government in the state and we are keen to have Vedanta University on board. The ball is in Anil Agarwal’s court now,” said a senior state government official.
The official said Vedanta University officials were shown three different sites in September. These lands, however, are private ones and would be sold to Vedanta at reasonable rates.
It was suggested to Vedanta officials to have the university’s head office in Hyderabad, with campuses in other cities, including Bangalore and Chennai.
“Instead of setting up a campus in one city, they can spread it over to other cities too. We have shown them land, which is at a reasonable distance from Bangalore and Chennai, and would be connected through the golden quadrilateral,” the official added.
Andhra Pradesh has already invited institutions like the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, CMC Vellore, and Indian Institute of Science. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, is setting up a satellite campus in the state.
Vedanta University is modelled on Stanford University and aims to be a world-class, multi-disciplinary university, with students from around the world. However, the varsity, which was to begin operations by mid-2011, has not even started the basic infrastructure work on the land due to stiff opposition from locals and lack of political support.
The foundation had earlier told Business Standard that if it was not able to set up the university in Orissa, the land acquired could be made into an extended arm of the university, which could be housed outside Orissa. A director of a local institute told Business Standard: “The university concept is a good one and if Vedanta opts out, it would be an opportunity loss for Orissa.”

MoEF’s apathetic approach on Environmental clearance

Recently the MoEF has been news for stalling several economic development projects. Instead of finding a sustainable approach for co-existence of industry and environment, the ministry has started a kind of activism since the beginning of UPA-II regime. One of the major victims of the so-called environmental activism has been the State of Orissa, which is one of the poorest states in India, in spite of having rich mineral resources.

However, the double standard of MoEF’s activism has recently evident from its decision regarding the environmental clearance for Jindal Power Limited Chhattisgarh. Though the MoEF has stopped two mega industrial projects in Orissa – Niyamgiri Bauxite Mining Project by OMC & Sterlite Industries and POSCO Steel Project – on the basis of reports submitted by committees, composed of well known environmental activists; the MoEF approved Environmental clearance for Jindal Power Limited for putting up 4x600 MW Power Plant at Tamnar in Gharghoda Tahsil, in Raigarh District of Chhattisgarh. But the TOR for the same project was withdrawn u/s 5 of Environmental Protection Act for violation of ‘EIA Notification-2006’ on June 18 2010

This project came in news when MoEF realized that 2400 MW project cannot be installed just in 62 Ha of land based on which TOR was cleared in March 2009 against normal requirement for such a mega project to the tune around 1000Ha. The project authority has gone beyond this and started construction on a site for which no land acquisition was taken place and site was totally different than shown in the TOR. On receipt of a complaint from a NGO that project construction has started without EC on a different site for which no Public Hearing has been conducted, MoEF was forced to withdraw the TOR on 18.06.2010 for violation of EIA Notification 2006 and starting construction without obtaining Prior Environmental Clearance. , JPL had not informed MoEF about the relocation of the project also to another site.

In a dramatic turn, JPL case was again put up in EAC meeting at MoEF within one month of withdrawal of TOR for grant of EC on 9th August, 2010 where JPL had accepted their mistakes and revised land use pattern besides giving justification for various issues raised by NGO as well as environmental experts. MoEF has ignored the observation of Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) that the proposed site is a coal bearing area and again accepted the justification of JPL that approval for locating plant in Coal bearing area shall be taken from Ministry of Coal in due course of time. Since no land was available, it was made to understand that the coal storage area requiring around 250 Acre of land will be located at a distance of 30KM from the plant land requirement for ash pond was limited to just 4 years requirement by stating that all ash will be 100% utilized after 4 years. It is further reported that Coal trandfer shall be through a Pipe Conveyor for which permission of right of way shall be obtained in due course of time as no land has been acquired or available. Since, Pipe conveyor also have physical structure, it can be installed only by acquiring land and not by obtaining right of way. Since, MoEF was to clear the project, all aspects have been overlooked and finally Environmental Clearance has been granted in the meeting of October, 2010 by restoring the original TOR.

The clearance of such a mega project clearly shows the type of transparency being maintained by MoEF and strengthen the concern of Mr Naveen Pattnaik, Chief Minister, of step motherly and vindictive attitude of Central Government towards Orissa State It is to be noted that Vedanta Alumina Refinery Expansion from 1-6 MTPA was also issued direction u/s 5 for violation of EIA Notification 2006 in August 2010 and since then project has been stopped by affecting livelihood of more that 10,000 people. MoEF is reluctant to consider grant of EC for this project even though a circular has been issued by MoEF on 16th November, 2010 that as instances have come to their notice where substantial progress has been made with substantial investment inviolation of EIA Notification 2006, all such projects can be considered for EC provided their board submit an undertaking that such mistakes shall not be repeated. It has been come to the notice that no such undertaking was sought from JPL which was cleared much before 16th November 2010 .

Before it is too late , time has come for people of Orissa to introspect and take a line so that development of Orissa is not stopped and much awaited clearances for various projects in Orissa is granted by MoEF without futher delay. This may require a better understanding between state and centre for the benefit of people of Orissa. The leaders of state politics also has to understand that such blatant favor and vindictive attitude of Central Government towards Orissa State can not go unnoticed by the people of Orissa . To stop the repeat of Bihar in Orissa, it is necessary that projects of Orissa should be cleared on priority to realize the dream of our late leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Biju Pattnaik of bringing tribal community into main stream.

The clearance of JPL project even before issuance of circular has raised many question the answers of which may be available in time to come. Why there was an hurry in issuing EC to JPL only ever before issue of such circular? It is clear that Mr, Jairam Ramesh was under tremendous pressure form his party for showing favor to his party’s colleagues and stopping development at Orissa State. Can MoEF justify that no favor has been shown ? Orissa is a poor state but rich in mineral and let Orissa also to develop. This is possible only if people can think above party line.

The people of Kalahandi appeal to the Hon`ble High Court for survival

• Tribal leaders from Kalahandi and Raygada districts of Orissa filed writ petitions today for justice for their survival .
• This is for the first time that the tribals demand industrialisation in their area for their livelihood.
• They appealed against the MOEF decision stalling the expansion of Vedanta Refinery project at Lanjigarh .

Cuttack/Bhubaneswar. Nov ,12 .2010 , Today, several leading tribal organisations from Kalahandi and Raygada districts have proactively submitted writ petitions to the Hon`ble High court against the recent verdict of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) for stalling the expansion of refinery project of Vedanta Aluminium limited ( VAL) at Lanjigarh.

In an unprecedented move, perhaps for the first time in the country, hundreds of local tribals and inhabitants of the nearby villages of Lajigarh have come all the way from their native village to appeal to the state High Court at Cuttak against the move of MOEF, Government of India.

In a writ petition to the High Court the organisations have mentioned that because of refinery initiative of Vedanta Aluminium at Lanjigarh , hundreds of locals are being engaged directly and indirectly for the livelihood . In fact the company has taken steps to ensure that the residents of Lanjigarh have some form of a dignified lifestyle; have been able to integrate themselves into the mainstream and have succeeded in providing for the needs of their family members.

They have further submitted that all-round development has been initiated in the villages, resulting in raising the standard of education, medical facilities, infrastructure facilities, thereby giving confidence and assurance to the locals of Lanjigarh. A large number of locals, who are also members of the Petitioner association, have purchased vehicles, which are being used at the construction site. It is further submitted that owing to the stoppage of construction activities at the said site, these Petitioners will be faced with the prospect of dishonouring of the loans taken to purchase the said vehicles.

Eight such organisations have jointly submitted the petition to the Chief justice of Orissa .These organisations are :-

1. Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar, ( Rehabilitation Colony), Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
2. Lanjigarh Anchalika Bikash Parishad, Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
3. Nabin Vikash Trush, Bisamcuttack, Rayagada, Orissa.
4. Unnayan Anchalika Samiti, Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
5. Alumina Refinery Labour Union, Lanjigarh, Kalahandi, Orissa.
6. Niyamgiri Adivasi VIkash Parishad,
7. Shakti Organisation, Rayagda, Orissa
8. Kuii Bikash Parishad, Kurli, Rayagada, Orissa.

After submitting the PIL ,their official spokesperson Mr Sridhar Pesina said to the media “In the last three months, most of the shops & markets have been closed. Our people have again started migrating to other states and some people who had started private entrepreneurship are avoiding coming home in fear of action on account of default of loan repayment. Conditions are becoming worse day by day” Although Vedanta Management has assured us of restarting the project, but the current situation has created uncertainties and fear among the people. He criticised the MOEF for not realising the ground reality and consequences of such decision which has forced them to approach the Hon`ble High Court for the justice .

There is a quantum shift in the region through the community development initiatives undertaken by the company in health, education and livelihood. The people of this area are waiting to reap the benefits of implementation of the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court by which 5% of the profit (before tax) from the project would have been shared with the community for developmental works. The process has started and we understand that after expansion the contribution for the developmental work would be in the order of Rs 80-100 Cr annually which can provide livelihood opportunities for everyone in the area and changing today`s perception of Kalahandi as a “Black Pot”.

Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) Donates Three Ambulance in Rayagada

Saturday, November 06, 2010

• LPADF, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed for Vedanta Alumina Refinery Project and OMC’s Niyamgiri Bauxite mining project donates three Ambulances to Rayagada District Administration
• The Ambulance will be mainly used for Janani Suraksha Yojana program and emergency medical services in Rayagada

Rayagada, Nov 06 – The Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) - a special purpose vehicle formed by Government of Orissa with Directors from Government of Orissa (GoO), Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and Sterlite Industries (India) Limited (SIIL) as per the Supreme Courts verdict for Vedanta project at Lanjigarh and OMC’s Niyamgiri mining project - donated three fully operational Ambulances to the District Administration of Rayagada, today. All these ambulances will be placed in rural and tribal areas of Rayagada and would be used for the Janani Suraksha Yojana program and mobile health service in the district.

Mukesh Kumar, President & Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh and one of the Director of LPADF handed over the keys of the ambulances to Dr. Benudhar Naik, Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Rayagada. M. Muthukumar, IAS, Sub-Collector of Gunupur; Padmanava Sethi, ADM, Rayagada and Sanjay Kumar Pattnaik, one of the Directors of LPADF also attended the small function, held at District Headquarter Hospital, Rayagada, today.

“These three ambulances, equipped with modern facilities will play important role for providing better medical facilities in Rayagada district,” said Mukesh Kumar. The ambulances will help save the lives of those in need of urgent medical care by facilitating more rapid access to health services. LPADF is committed for further contribution to improve health facility for tribal rural population in the district, he informed.

LPADF is the first ever initiative in India for sharing economic benefits of industrialisation with the society on a sustainable basis. This model, advised by the Supreme Court for Vedanta Refinery Proejct and OMC’s Niyamgiri mining project will help in confidence building in the society and promote sustainable socio-economic development through industrialisation in tribal and rural areas. In Kalahandi and Rayagada district, the LPADF has taken up a lot of developmental work such as comprehensive upgradation of tribal schools, college infrastructure, upgradation of electrical system, health facility etc, since inception in October 2009. The main focus areas are development in health, education, livelihood, communication and cultural heritage. The LPADF also inducted three mobile medical units (MHUs) in diarrhoea affected areas in Rayagada district.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited under its CSR program has also taken up several initiatives to improve the health care service for tribal people in Kalahandi and Rayagada district. Recently, on October 29, 2010 it has opened a modern Hospital at Lanjigarh for public. This will provide secondary level healthcare service for people in the locality.

Tribals need Industry and Development: Dongria Kondhas

Dongria Kondhas give memorandum to District Collector demanding Industry

“Provide electricity, water and roads, give industry and development to the adivashi”, this was one of the slogans of more than 400 tribal Dongria Kondhas living at the foothills of the Niyamgiri hills who gathered at Bhawanipatna to give a memorandum to the District Collector of Kalahandi, Orissa demanding industrialization and development.

In the memorandum, the tribal people demanded development, health, education for their children which industrialization will bring with it. To give the memorandum to the District Collector, the Dongria Kondhas had arranged a rally of more than 400 people from Town Hall to the office of the District Collector at Bhawanipatna.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhan Majhi, President of Niyamgiri Adivasi Vikash Parisad, said, “Our children also need educated, they need good health and life style. For this industrialization is necessary in our area.”

Katli Majhi, President, Dongria Kondha Unnayan Samiti, said, “Industrialization brings a lot of livelihood to our family members. Women members of the Dongria Kondhas are earning a good amount of money due to Vedanta’s efforts. For the sake of development we need industrialization at any cost.” They have also stated that Central Government's decision to stall Vedanta Aluminum project at Lanjigarh is the most unfortunate incident in the history of Kalahandi district and is not good for the Kondhas.

A similar rally was organized by more than 300 Dongria Kondhas at Rayagada to give a memorandum to the District Collector. Here also a rally was organized demanding industry and development.

Pranab’s ‘Development Mantra’

In the midst of the ensuing debate over development vis-à-vis environment protection that runs from Niyamgiri to New Delhi, the recent statement of the Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is of utmost importance: ‘ The answer does not lie in stopping mining activities, rather in providing adequate compensation to the displaced and ensuring that they become beneficiaries of economic development.’
Such a statement from an astute statesman and coming within a month of the Environment ministry’s rejection of earlier clearance to Vedanta’s Bauxite Mining Project and halting land acquisition process for Posco’s Steel Project in Orissa, is indicative of the Centre’s shift from its earlier stand in the matter.
The definition of development rests on a balance approach to both environment & development. The 50 year old Rourkela Steel Plant, the pride of Orissa, is a case in point. Since then many industrial projects have been shelved as a result of the never ending debate between environment & development. While both the Posco & Vedanta projects have been ensnared in this battle, the Mittal project is yet to take off. This is a huge set back in the economic growth of the state.
On the other hand, the allegations of the Saxena Committee report appear to have loopholes. The Central Mining Planning & Designing Institute has opined that reforestation after the bauxite mining in the Niyamgiri hills will result in creating a green belt as in the case of Nalco.
The committee also claims that denying the rights of the tribal people will encourage Maoism. The question is, in the name of environment should the Adivasis be deprived of development and be allowed to continue making a living from forests. The environment does not belong to Adivasis alone, but to humanity.
Keeping this in mind and rising above petty ideological differences, planning should ensure progress and equitable development of the country as a whole.

Vedanta provides medical aid in diarrhea hit villages in Rayagada

Vedanta Aluminium Limited extended its support to the district administration of Rayagada to fight the outbreak of Diarrhoea in Bissam cuttack, Kalayansinghpur and Kashipur block of the district. The company has been providing supplementary and complementary medical support to the local community of these three blocks in collaboration with the Govt. Health Department. Till date, it has provided health service with medical & paramedical care, medicine and ORS facility to 350 patients in the Bissamcuttack and Kalayansinghpur blocks, through its mobile health unit and Special Health Camps.

The company started its mobile health service in Bissamcuttack block on September 03, 2010 and in Kalyanginghpur block from 9th September onwards. The CSR Team of the company has taken up a sanitation drive in the villages by sprinkling bleaching Powder, demonstration of clean hand practices and applying disinfectants to other water bodies and also home application of halogen tablets. More than 100 Plastic Mats have been provided to three blocks for the patients who are admitted in the temporary treatment centers.

Besides, for facilitating the medical, paramedical staff and other volunteers to continue their services in inaccessible villages, drinking water (water bottle and water pouches) and biscuits have been provided for the medical staff as well as the patients and attendants who are at the temporary treatment centers in three blocks.

The company is also taking proactive step in raising awareness among the community. It has put awareness banner in PHC and CHC of three blocks to create awareness on diarrhea besides circulating leaflets / brochures. The villages covered under the special drive are Gadaba, Hikinee, Dhamanpanga, Lakhpai, Kisingi, Upper Anchalbadi, Tala Anchalbadi, Pendamaska.

In order to prevent spread of diarrhea in the Refinery periphery villages, the company has also started an intensive drive on awareness building to control diarrhea through door to door campaign by its employees since 13thSept’10. Two Mobile Health Unit services with medical, paramedical care and medicine are on duty 24X7. For all referral cases two Ambulances services available on the site. Bleaching powder has being sprinkled in the drains, surrounding and near drinking water sources of the villages with the help of community and employees of the Vedanta Refinery. Community sensitization is going on by the VAL employee through door to door visit. CSR Head of the Company Mr. Prashant Hota and his team led by Ms Alka Minj and Dr Akshya Sahoo are in close coordination with the the Govt Medical Officers from Lanjigarh , Biswanathpur , Kasipur and Kalyansinghpur and with the Local leaders and the Village based special committees .

Simultaneous mitigation and preventive drive have been initiated in Dongria and Kutia Kandh predominant villages Phuldumer, Palberi, Balbhadrapur and Trlochanpur. Soap pieces have been provided to the tribal families while demonstrating the clean hand drives. Application of water treatment agents like sand, alum and chlorine in the Water distribution points, bleaching powder in the drains and garbage sources and halogen tablets in the drinking water containers were also demonstrated in the Tribal households in the above villages. Medical Outlets of the Company in Balbhdrapur, Trilocahnpur and Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar are fully equipped to provide outdoor treatment / rehydration facilities for Diarrheoa and malaria patients. Company CSR team is in high alert for the tribal villages for providing ambulances in odd hour for transporting the patients from the inaccessible villages. ‘CDMO and District Collector are also being reported of the Preventive and curative intervention undertaken by the Company’ said Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limired, Lanjigarh.