Public Purpose – Power Generation – For Whom?

“Chattisgarh’s heart of weekness”
by Supriya Sharma



District under discussion:- Korba in Chattisgarh State

Villages involved for land acquisition:- Churikala, Jhora, Darra Bhanta, Salora and Gangpur

Bold and forthright Spokes Person:- Vinod Pandey

Powerful Power Plant Proprietors:M/s.Vandana Vidyut limited

Means of oppression:

1) District Administration

2) Land Acquisition Act 1894 (Section-17)

3) Public purpose – Power generation by a Private Ltd. Co

4) Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of    Atrocities) Act

Stark Reality:

60 Thermal Power plants under various stages of implementation in 3 Districts, namely, Korba, Raigarh,

Janjgir Champa.

Success Story of the State:

Creation of a Power Hub in the near future to generate surplus power and feed the neighbouring States at a tremendous cost to the life and livelihood of the local inhabitants (Tribals) and natural environment.

We don’t know who is Vinod Pandey, a lone crusader in the company of the hapless tribal farming families losing their land and livelihood at a price. Forest and Tribals are being uprooted from their home lands and made homeless and landless persons. It is unfortunate that the special provisions of Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996 (PESA) have also become powerless as reported.

Cause of concern:-

It is disheartening to note that no public representative either from the Village Panchayat or District Panchayat or M.L.A. or M.P. or the local Minister or any educated citizen of the district is in a position to question the wrong doing meted out to the powerless people.

Remedy:-

• It is hoped that the Hon’ble High Court at Bilaspur will deliver the justice to these helpless tribals whose cause has been taken up by people like Mr.Vinodh Pandey and Mr.Kanwar.

• His Excellency the Governor of this Tribal state can come to the rescue of these tribal families for whom the new state of Chhattisgarh has been created.

• If the personal and constitutional method of agitation and litigation fail to deliver the good, the Adivasis may become violent and join the ranks of Naxalites any time in the near future.

• If the State Government is really serious and the district administration wants to remain sensitive to the demands of the local residents whose lands are being usurped under the garb of public purpose, then these displaced persons should be permanently entitled to 50% of the taxable profit earned by the Power Generation Company in addition to the land acquisition compensation which should be reasonably determined and paid. This sort of agreement for a compromise should be explained in detail and the project approval obtained from the Gram Sabha in the presence of the District Collector and the District Sessions Judge of the concerned District.

Copy to His Excellency, the Governor of the State

Copy to the Industry Secretary, Shri Dinesh Srivatsava

Copy to the District Collector

Copy to Korba Lok Sabha M.P.

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Copy to Hon.Chief Justice, Chhattisgarh High Court, Bilaspur