[Reader-list] Civil Society Team Opposes POSCO Project

[berkeleysanjay]

Dear friends:

There was a Press Conference held at Indian Women Press Corps, Windsor
Place, New Delhi, from 4-6 pm today (10th October 2007). This press note
was circulated and discussed with the media friends. 

 

 

Press-Note

Civil Society Team Opposes POSCO Project

New Delhi

            10th October 2007

 

A team of academicians, journalists, human rights activists and leaders of
peoples’ movement representatives, express their categorical opposition
to the proposed POSCO Steel project as anti-people, ecologically degrading
and destructive of livelihood of farmers and fisher-folks and expresses its
solidarity to the heroic struggle of the people of Gadkujang, Dinkia and
Nuwagaon for protection of their land and livelihood.

 

The team comprised of Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, (formerly of Delhi
University), Sumit Chakraborty, (Editor, Mainstream), Tom Kochchery
(Permanent Invitee, World Forum of Fisher People), Harekrishna Debnath
(General Secretary, National Fishworkers Forum), Tapan Bose (General
Secretary, South Asia Forum for Human Rights), among others who visited
Kujanga near Paradeep Port, Orissa.  The team interacted with the members
of the resistance movement against the proposed steel project by
multinational company, POSCO. The group spoke to representatives of POSCO
Pratirodh Sangram Samiti and Nav Nirman Samiti and later participated in a
dharna organized by the protesting villagers in Nuwagaon.

 

Attack on People’s Livelihood
The team found that land is the major source of livelihood, with betel
vines and cashew cultivation being the main source of income in Dinkia,
Nuwagaon, and Gadkujang, the villages to be affected by the project. Betel
vine being a perennial crop, it provides substantial income to the
cultivators. Acquisition of land for the project will destroy betel
cultivation, as any alternative site cannot support such cultivation, as
the fertile soil in these villages with abundant supply of water is
particularly suited for betel cultivation. The Solidarity Group expresses
its concerns against such wanton destruction of prosperous and
self-sustaining agricultural economy of these villages in the name of
development. It is a clear attack on people’s subsistent economy and
livelihood.

 

Land Acquisition & Land Alienation

A large chunk (approximately 3500 out of a total 4000 acres) of the land to
be acquired is shown in revenue records as governmental land. But the
reality of the area is that most of such land has been under continuous
cultivation by peasants. Therefore, the impact of the project is going to
be much more destructive than the official estimates. This is a means of
land alienation too. Any land acquisition leads to land alienation, and
finally turns to be principal source of de-peasantization process. Since
POSCO is an SEZ, with a demand of more than 6000 acres, the extents of land
acquisition would be rampant. The Team condemns the State Government’s
decision to cede such ‘government land’ to a foreign company when it
refuses to hand it over to its tillers even when mandated by land
legislations of Orissa.

 

Special Economic or Special Exploitation Zones!

Generally SEZ is a closed enclave where no taxes are collected, there are
no labour laws and there is no local government - on land taken for a
pittance. Apart from unbridled land acquisition, the SEZ decimates all
democratic rights like the right to self-determination, the sovereignty of
the people living these zones, etc. – which constitutes the very core of
democracy. These zones would be alien lands with the Indian nation. Legal
experts say that, twenty-one different Indian laws are inapplicable within
the zone, one of the most important being the Panchayat law. Even otherwise
it won’t have any space for the local people. The SEZ will employ only
highly educated and hi-tech people. Besides, it is a duty-free zone
considered foreign territory for trade and financial purposes. Under the
newly formed SEZ Act, companies in the zone are granted huge concessions in
customs duties, sales tax and even income tax. 

 

Flouting Environmental Norms

The team also calls upon the attention of government and environmentalists
to protect the area, since the eco-system is too fragile. The proposed
mining site is very close to pristine forest and natural water sources. A
port is being proposed at the mouth of Jatadhar river, only 7 kms away from
existing port at Paradip. Jatadhar river is the major channel of water
drainage for the two districts of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrpara. It is feared
that construction of the port will lead to waterlogging in the area and
excessive siltation, as happened after the establishment of the Paradeep
Port. The team also questions the need of having a separate private Port.
When there is already a port at seven kilometers from Paradip, why should
there be another one? Thus it deprives thousands of fisherfolks of their
source of livelihood.

 

Drama of Public Hearing 

On 15th April 2007 Orissa Pollution Control Board conducted a public
hearing in Kunjang village. Despite repeated calls for postponement or
fixing a location nearer to the affected villages, the hearing – legal
requirement under Environmental Impact Assessment guidelines – was
conducted some 25 kms. away from the affected villages. Despite all
apprehensions on land acquisition, mass displacement, loss of livelihood,
property, eco-system, destruction of eco-friendly economy, the central
government went ahead to give the environmental clearance. The resistance
movement also mentioned that out of the total number of people who attended
in the Public Hearing, hardly 20 percent of them were from the affected
villages. It seems that the drama of Public Hearing was well set

 

Repression to meet Democratic Dissent!
The Group condemns the repression unleashed by the State Government on the
protesting villagers.  Several battalions of Orissa Military Police have
been deployed at Kujanga, the Tehsil headquarters. Many rounds of
flag-marches have already been staged to intimidate people’s dissent.
Local people are panic stuck with the appearance of police and paramilitary
forces, into their hitherto peaceful land. Today these villages are the
best market place to the full-of paid henchman. Several false cases have
been foisted on the activists of POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti and Nava
Nirman Samiti. 

 

In light of these facts, the team demands –

 

a) To the State Government of Orissa

Annul the MoU signed with Pohang Steel Co. (POSCO). 
Put an end to repression of the villagers in Dhinkia, Gadkujang and
Nuwagaon and withdraw all false cases against them. 
Stop the process of land acquisition in these villages. 
Immediately act to give ownership rights to the cultivators of
‘government land’. 
Declare a moratorium on all MoUs signed by the Government for
‘development’ projects. 
Cease displacement of people in the name of ‘development’ projects; and
 

b) To the Central Government

Cancel the SEZ Approval for the POSCO project. 
Repeal the SEZ Act and start an open and democratic dialogue on the SEZ
policy, and 
Withdraw all environmental clearances and permission given to the project 
  

 

S/d                                                                        
                  S/d

Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty                                                   
       Sumit Chakraborty

 

 

S/d                                                                        
                  S/d       

Thomas Kocherry                                                            
         Tapan Bose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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