Letter to MoEF: Provide justice by establishing an IIFM in Kalahandi, Odisha

To
Sri Jairam Ramesh, Honorable Minister of Envrionment and Forest

CC
Dr Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India
Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Honorable UPA Chariperson
Sri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha
Sri Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary, Indian National Congress Party
Secretaty, Ministry of Envrionment and Forest

Dear Honourable Sri Jairam Ramesh,
Vedanta could have been a great hope for Kalahandi’s industrialization process as the company was planning a world class refinery (one of the largest in Asia) and manufacturing unit in Lanjigarh. There is no other industry in whole Kalahandi constituency. Though there are local intellectuals who still advocate industrialization of Kalahandi through Vedanta, due to small number of affected people (a fraction compared to the people who would have been benefited from industrialization) the project was put in uncertainty by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).
The decision by MoEF is largely seen as political in the local and state level, as the involved group directly comes from political parties: opposing group in the local level comes from congress party and supporting group in the local level comes from BJD.
Recently it is also being alleged by various neutral intellectual groups that MoEF has acted harshly on Vedanta in Kalahandi compared to other projects such as Navi Mumbai airport, Pollavoram, POSCO, etc.
Though MoEF’s decision has made activists, environmentalists, NGOs and few political groups unexpectedly happy, it has made nation builders, Kalahandi lovers and economists worried. In this political battle who really took the back seat was the development of Kalahandi, one of the most backward pockets in the nation.
Lanjigarh was one of the locations in the district that made Kalahandi name infamous across the globe for starvation death and child selling. People were dying eating mago kernel in Lanjigarh region in late 1990s which is still available in archives of many national news papers. So far central Govt. approved major projects in Kalahandi are: Upper Indravati Project (approved during Marajee Desai Govt.), Lanjigarh road – Junagarh railway line (approved during Chandrasekhar Govt.), National Highways (NH201 & NH217 approved during Vajpayee Govt.), etc, all of them were sanctioned during Non-congress Government in the center. Tracking this record and statistics of last 63 years in post independence period, when congress party has ruled the nation not a single major establishment was ever approved in Kalahandi constituency yet, thus, people who wants to make this region as par with other parts of the nation are totally confused on what does the central Govt. presently store for Kalahandi? Is it under development and spreading of naxallism that Kalahandi has witnessed in past decades? Perhaps, MoEF is not concerend about this as it does not come under its ministry, but it is a concern for Kalahandi and its people in general.

Why do people in Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad (your home city), etc would enjoy industrialisation, thus development, and poeple in Kalahandi bear the cost for environment and would be forced to migrate in long run like me?

Why can't be a regulation that envrionment and industries are balanced in all constituencies of India without making no industry zone like Kalahandi always at the receiving end?

MoEF has not yet come with a concrete plan from Niyamgiri and has NOT done any positive contribution towards Kalahandi even for the development of forest and environment. Beside that substantial portion (above 30%) of the land area of Kalahandi comes under forest area and Odisha has the highest percentage of forest area among various states and union territories in India except North eastern block of states and Chhattisgarh. Odisha is next to Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in terms of total area of forest land and has the maximum forest land by both percentage as well as area wise among all the states in eastern part of the country, such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.

As you are aware forest may help to give a better environment to live and facilitate as a living source for large part of tribal population. But, in place like Kalahandi more forest and environment are destroyed by ignorant people than by industries due to lack of useful knowledge and management skill towards environment and natural resources and allied sectors.
Institutions as par with Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) Bhopal may be helpful in this regards to prepare outstanding and talented young person for careers leading to management responsibility in forestry and the forest-related system and meet the need of Indian forestry and forest-related industry and commerce in respect of upto-date information on forestry management through research and consultancy.
Establishment of IIFM in Bhopal was based on forest area in undivided Madhya Pradesh that includes present Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and this institution is doing remarkably well in the national level. Union ministry of environment and forest must establish four such new institutions in those states having large forest area such as one in Kalahandi in Odisha for eastern part, and others in Andhra Pradesh for Southern part, in Uttarakhand for Northern part and in Arunachal Pradesh for North Eastern part of the country.

Since MoEF has acted harshly against development of Kalahandi, an IIFM should be established in Kalahandi in first priorty basis as soon as possible.
Thanking you and best regards
Digambara Patra
--
Dr. Digambara Patra
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
American University of Beirut
P.O. Box: 11-0236, Riad El Solh
Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon
Email: digpatra@gmail.com
http://staff.aub.edu.lb/~dp03/

Courtesy: orissadiary.com

DOSA bats for Vedanta project, inclusive growth in State

Concerned over the "deplorable politics" and the ongoing controversy over the Vedanta bauxite mining in the Niyamagiri hills, a 12-member fact finding team of the Delhi Odia Students' Association (DOSA) had a two-day visit to the Lanjigarh block in Kalahandi district and viewed that the corporates, politicians and NGOs are fighting with each other instead of focusing on the development of the State.

Addressing a Press conference here on Friday, DOSA president Tejeswar Parida said that the poor tribals of the region are the victims of the continuing nasty politics, unholy nexus between the groups with vested

interests and the double standard approach while it requires qualitative improvements in the socio-economic fronts.

Parida alleged that the local administration was far from the required responsiveness and developmental interventions for ensuring better living standards while the Vedanta Aluminum Limited (VAL), claimed to have spent about `100 crore under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), need to come under the scanner of a social audit.

Parida observed that there can be harmony between the industrial development and environmental protection and also observed that the Centre should refrain from its political motive while according the environmental clearance to the Vedanta group. "If Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh could give clearances to the lavoram project and Navi Mumbai airport, why not in Odisha's case," Parida questioned.

To prevent the migration of unemployed youth and trafficking of tribal women to the different parts of country, DOSA advocated for employment generating heavy industries which only Vedanta can solve.

"The functioning of schools, health centre, vocational training, construction of small bridges, check dams for irrigation purpose and formation of women self help groups by Vedanta deserves appreciation," said Parida.

Parida alleged that some of the NGOs and political leaders were creating wrong impression and taking advantage of the ignorance of the tribals.

He further alleged that those vested interests have been exploiting the situation for grabbing huge funds in the name of development while certain NGOs are playing with the sentiments of the tribals by making immotive appeals on the basis of religion, faith and nature. Among others, Manas Mallick, Rajanikanta Das, Sibananda Mishra and Biswaranja Parida were present.

Courtesy: The Pioneer

'Quality Education is must for growth'

The awareness about need of education for growth and in fighting poverty, eradicating deceases like Malaria, Sickle Cell Anemia etc is continuously on the rise in tribal belts of Kalahandi and Rayagada district. People are looking for development to live a better life which is getting reflected with the considerable improvement in attendance and reduction in drop out cases in almost all the schools.
Showing commitment for development in Kalahandi and Rayagada region, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President and COO, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh – while inaugurating the new school building of Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir at Ambodala, Rayagada – reiterated that Vedanta is concerned about improving standard of education and health care for the overall development of the region. He further stressed that, now under right to education also it is very much essential that every child must go to the school.
“Unless every child goes to school, Vedanta’s aim of improving educational standard is not fulfilled. To ensure every child get at least pre-school education and to give the children nutritious food Vedanta is supporting nearly 1000 Aganwadi Centres in association with GOO besides running nearly 45 Child Care Centres which aims for 100% enrollment in the Primary School,” said Dr. Mukesh Kumar in the sidelines of the inaugural function of the Additional Classrooms of Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir at Ambodala on January 2, 2011.
VAL constructed the classroom under its Corporate Social responsibility of the project ‘Shiksha’ which aims to ensure that each child enjoys his/her right. He also promised to bring the school under Computer Literacy Programme of VAL.
Further showing importance of the need of higher education in the area, he said, “Students of this area now can study science at degree level as Vedanta has opened a Degree level Science College at Lanjigarh which will begin its academic session from 2011 and will enroll students from Lanjigarh, Biswanathpur, Ambodala, Munigura where students give up studies after 10th or +2 due to the unavailability of any good college.”
Education being an important tool in building future, Vedanta has been trying to improve the education sector in Kalahandi and Rayagada district. A Degree Science College, +2 Science College and a DAV Vedanta International School at Lanjigarh are few of the initiatives Vedanta has taken to enhance the educational standard of the region.

Review Niyamgiri decision: Orissa tells Centre

Express News Service
Bhubaneswar, December 24

WITH the sound and fury dying down in the aftermath of Centre’s no to Niyamgiri mining by Vedanta, a fresh move has begun to revive the issue. The State Government, in a letter to the Centre, has sought review of the decision. And it has polled all statistics to show that no violation did ever take place and Niyamgiri mining be allowed.

The proposal should be reconsidered in a proper perspective and the stage-II clearance accorded, the letter said. It reportedly maintains that there are no ST community members in the Niyamgiri reserve forest area in Kalahandi district.

The Government also gave assurance to the Environ Ministry that mining activities could start without hurting ecology of the area. The letter comes exactly four months after the Centre rejected environment clearance to the mining project proposed by the State owned OMC to feed raw material to Vedanta’s alumina refinery at Lanjigarh.

The letter, sent by the Environment and Forest Department on Wednesday, says that the matter concerning violation of the Forest Rights Act have been investigated by the ST & SC Development Department. All pending claims pertaining to diversion of 660.74 hectares of forest land by the mining project are being taken care of in accordance to law, the Government claimed.

The minister for Steel and Mines Raghunath Mohanty asserted that no tribal actually lived in the reserve forest area of Niyamgiri and all work at the project was done as per the Supreme Court judgment.

No Tribal Lives in Niyamgiri Hills: Orissa Govt

Annoyed over the Centre's rejection of a proposal to start bauxite mining atop Niyamgiri hills in Orissa's Kalahandi district, the state government today said no tribal was living in Niyamgiri Reserve Forest area spreading over 2,100 hectare.

This was stated by Orissa Steel and Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty while replying a question in the assembly. "As per the information available with the state government, no scheduled tribe person lives in the Niyamgiri reserve forest area," he said.

He said the total area of Niyamgiri area was 30.032 km. "There was no village in Niyamgiri area also," the minister said.

Stating that an estimated 88 million tonne of bauxite was reserved in Niyamgiri hills, the minister said that two central organisations like Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) had undertaken survey work in the area.

The state owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) was about to start bauxite mining atop Niyamrigi hills to feed Vedanta Alumina Limited (VAL)'s refinery at Lanjigarh when the Union ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) rejected the proposal on August 24.

source: http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?706031

MoEF’s double standards?

Courtesy: Express News Service

No To Vedanta, Yes To Commercial Complex

Strange are the ways of government! The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest which withdrew environmental clearance for Vedanta has now given the go-ahead for a commercial space in the Durgapur Reserve Forest.
Located prominently along the highway, Durgapur reserve has long been falling prey to illegal encroachment with a local business house driving the last nail in the green canopy's coffin by engaging heavy earth moving equipment to carve out space for a commercial complex at the cost of the hill.
It is learnt that the proposal for de-reservation of the contentious area was approved by the Centre on the recommendation of the State Government.
Protesting the chopping of the greenery at Vedvyas along the State Highway 10, hundreds of tribal people, mostly women, took to the streets to save the natural assets.
The tribals under the banner of Jal, Jungle, Jamin Suraksha Committee on Wednesday took out a rally from Saw Mill area to Vedvyas square where a meeting was held. They closed all shops and vowed to save the hill from encroachers at all costs and demanded measures to restore the massive green canopy, that the hills once possessed.
Panposh Divisional Forest Officer Atish Behera confirmed that the forest de-reservation proposal of the said business house was approved by the Centre and they have little say on the issue.

Ban halts development at Lanjigarh

What if Rs. 10 crore spent on the development of Lanjigarh and its nearby area, or what if Rs 30 crore spent? This is true as according to verdict of the honourable Supreme Court of India, Sterlite Industries is required to deposit 5% of annual profits before tax and interest from Lanjigarh project or Rs 10 crore per annum whichever is higher. Lanjigarh, which is one of the poorest regions in India, would change from a poor region to a most developed place. However, all this good things would have happened if mining at Niyamgiri was permitted by the MoEF which is not the reality. The following news published in “Economic Times” by M V Ramsurya speaks the same.

Ban halts development at Lanjigarh

By M V Ramsurya | ET Bureau

MUMBAI: After stopping bauxite mining in Orissa the government now finds itself in a bind on the issue of rehabilitation in Lanjigarh. Corporate-backed developmental activities in the tribal region, one of the most backward places in the country, have come to a standstill following the environment ministry's ban on mining.
The Anil Agarwal-controlled Sterlite Industries had been ordered by the Supreme Court in August 2008 to spend about 5% of its profit for development activity at Lanjigarh.
Since the environment ministry in August 2010 had barred mining, the rehabilitation package which includes about Rs 10 crore of annual development activity including the building of roads, schools and hospitals, has now been stopped.
"If disbursement from the development fund were to continue, it would imply approval of mining which would be contrary to the ministry's order," said one person directly involved in the developmental work. On August 30, 2010, the ministry of environment and forests issued a notice barring bauxite mining in Niyamgiri on grounds of violation of environmental norms.
According to the same person quoted earlier, if the government asks Sterlite to stop developmental activity it would amount to contempt of court as it would go against the Supreme Court directive.
"Under our order we suggested rehabilitation package under which Sterlite Industries is required to deposit 5% of annual profits before tax and interest from Lanjigarh project or Rs 10 crore per annum whichever is higher," said the Supreme Court order. "The said project covers both mining and refining. The amount is required to be deposited by Sterlite Industries every year commencing from April 1, 2007. For the above reasons, we hereby grant clearance to the forest diversion proposal," read the order dated August 8, 2008.
A spokesperson for Vedanta Resources , the parent company for Sterlite Industries, declined to comment on the issue. Mails sent to the envioronment ministry also went unanswered.
For tribals of the area, the halt in developmental activity has compounded their woes. "We have wasted our time for nothing. Now, we want basic facilities like education and healthcare first. Industrial development can come later," said Jitu Jakasika, a Dongriya Kondh tribal, one of the new few people to have studied.
Among the projects which have been left uncertain include a Rs 3 crore hospital and a Rs 1.8 crore tribal school upgradation in the Lanjigarh block.
Bauxite mining at Niyamgiri had attracted global attention after reports that the company had allegedly not consulted tribals before embarking on mining, thereby prompting the local population to mount stiff opposition to the project. International NGOs highlighted that mining would destroy sacred tribal areas and also impact the environment.
The controversy finally led the government to issue its notification to stop mining activity.