VANTAGE 2011

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VANTAGE

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April 2011, Vol 2, Issue 1

For internal circulation only

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Scenic Araku Tribal culture Green concerns

A UoH Dispatch Publication Department of Communication Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication University of Hyderabd

The

other side of our growth story

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VANTAGE 2011 EDITORS

Editorial 4

Midhun Raj U

Impressions 5

Nikhil MG Amanda Tariang FACILITATING EDITORS Ramu Suravajjula Usha Raman

Resettlement: never settled,

Development

DEPUTY EDITOR

Compensation: never paid 6 North Andhra: Promises & Paradox 8 Our wants, their woes 10 Manipulated concerns 12 A village resurrected 14 Struggle still continues... 15

EDITORIAL TEAM

Seeing beyond the visible 18

Abhijit Mech

The powerful alternative 19

Arnima Rao Bipin Sebastian

Suppresion of facts and feelings 20

Jamsheel CK Rajita Godasu Mohammad Anvar Rahul V.Pisharody Shiva Krishna

Resistance

Dhanusha Damodaran

Shruthi Shetty

COVER PHOTO Rahul V.Pisharody COVER DESIGN Midhun Raj U Vol. 2, Issue 1; Pages 56

Back of the Book

Sidharth Varma

Relentless Satyagraha 30 Problems galore at Paravada 31 Bullets do the talking 33

Hatcheries for Ridleys 39

PHOTOS Rahul V.Pisharody

“I’ll be the one to take the first bullet” 28

Bauxite Mining: Araku’s greenery under threat 36

Sidharth Varma

Midhun Raj U

Cover Story 22

An escape into the heart of Eastern Ghats 40 Journey into tribal lives 44 Livelihood in jeopardy 45 Culture treat from the tribes of Araku 46 Photo Feature 48 Wetlands or Wastelands? 54 A place that birds call home 55 From Russia with Love 56 The Design-adVantage 58

Printed and published by Head, Department of Communication, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication, University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India 500046

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editorial

the development that is not …the battle lines have been drawn and the air is filled with foreboding and desperation. The dissemblers ready themselves to reduce us to dust with their high ideas; our optimism itself seems to be falling apart. What is remaining for us to do now but to fight back until our last breath…

o

ur trip to the hinterlands of North Andhra has been thoroughly overwhelming. For the foreigners that we were, the rural life presented itself in stark contrast to the urban lifestyle we are so firmly rooted in. The conspicuous privation, the tormented minds, and the unsettling effect of the prospect of change that hovered over these villages gnawed at us throughout the trip. The accounts of the people of Sompeta, Kakarapalli, Vadditandra, Pittavanipalem, among others, had brought us face-to-face with the problems that came with the setting up of the thermal power plants – problems that we were oblivious to until then.

People readily welcomed us into their households and uninhibitedly and willingly shared their worries. Land, livelihood and health were the three predominant issues that the villagers were not willing to compromise on at any cost, and they were all battling for the same; a battle to free their culture and identity from the tyranny of the so called ‘development’. Whether it is the fishing community of Vadditandra, or farmers of Sompeta and Kakarapalli, work is a universal phenomenon, and yet so powerfully personal. For some of them, working on their farm lands is a source of contentment, for most others, it is hard to draw a line between work and life. What would be their fate if they lost their work and land - their only means to live another day? Take the people of Pittavanipalem, who were originally selfsufficient farmers, but are now contract labourers fighting for everyday survival after their lands have been appropriated by the National Thermal Power Corporation. All other villages will meet the same fate if the thermal power plants were to come up there.

In another village, Telineelapuram, we were greeted by the spot-billed pelicans and painted storks that circled above us singing in welcome. This village has been a wintering ground for these winged-visitors from Siberia. Telineelapuram stands on the verge of losing its biodiversity to the proposed thermal power project that is to come up in the neighboring village of Kakarapalli.

A considerable departure in the trip, so to speak, was our stay at Aruku, into the heart of the Eastern Ghats. The view of the spiraling ghat roads fringed with coffee and pepper plantations took our breath away. However, Bauxite mining in the scenic valley has become a cause of concern for the locals in the recent times.

This took us to the end of our trip and marked the beginning of another new journey.

The one lesson that we learned is that life is always teeming with uncertainties but we must move on without falling back - precisely what the people of these villages are doing. They are willing to endure all manner of hardships, even sacrifice their lives, but not have a thermal power plant wreck all that they have known and cherished.

…hope always lies where there is determination and courage. And with hope we live, a hope to make a difference, and a hope to see a new dawn…

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IMPRESSIONS of the editorial team as it looks back upon its journey to cover The Other Side of our growth story...

I understood that it was their perseverance that continued to the point where it is no longer considered appropriate by the state. But what’s wrong in standing your ground for your identity and the little world where you belong?

Nikhil The life in Araku made me realize that a happy life does not always necessarily mean a luxurious one.

Amanda

Displacement, poverty, anguish, and agony prevailed over peaceful lives of the weak. But resistance and endurance is what I learnt.

I experienced the plight of the marginalised and oppressed. The meaning of ‘development’ changes at Sompeta where development leads them to deprivation.

Arnima

Dhanusha It was appalling to see how the state brutally suppresses all voices against its developmental activities, most of those belonging to the marginalized.

It was inspiring to see them stand together and voice their concerns against the state bureaucracy.

Shiva

Midhun I learnt there is such disregard for environment despite efforts to spread its importance. A journey that fixed several misconceptions and ushered new thoughts. A big, new slice to my small bag of experiences.

Language is not needed to translate the agonies of people because tears convey it strong and clear all over the Anvar world.

Sidharth

It was an experiences deprived villagers optimism.

The bitter truth of oppression, deprivation and the fact that the marginalized are becoming a part of the history that might go unnoticed is sorrowful.

unmatchable to meet the yet spirited with such

Rahul

Shruthi

What I saw was the manipulation of rural life by pro and anti industrialists for their self-centered interests

Bipin

It was an experience that gave me a whole new perspective on life.

Abhijit

It was surprising to see the absence of dowry in the tribal weddings. I think they are much more developed than we are in that matter.

Rajitha

Life is very uncertain, and its a test of endurance to move on despite the uncertainities.

Jamsheel

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never settled,

Compensation: never paid MIdhun Raj U. VIsakhapatnaM

.

Midhun Raj U

"I am most unhappy that development projects displace tribal people from their habitat, especially as project authorities do not always take care to properly rehabilitate the affected population. But sometimes there is no alternative and we have to go ahead in the larger interest..."

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ost gigantic development projects have acquired an infamous status with the problems concerning displacement and rehabilitation along with the irregularities involved in this process. There have also been movements against such displacements. Ranging from 10 – 4,00,000 people, displacement has been an area of concern of all developmental activities. In addition, there is an ongoing debate on the whole idea of ‘development’. What is development? What are the purposes of development? Who are the beneficiaries of a development project? For the people who feel the pinch of development, what does it mean to them? Advocates of

-Indira Gandhi (Letter to Baba Amte),

development need to address these questions. These are the fundamental questions that lie behind protests all over the country over development issues.

Existing forms of economic development which constantly justify the forced eviction of people all over the country has proved that this dominant model has failed to create broader conditions of social security. In many cases, national and regional interests had usurped the rights and interests of politically and economically weaker sections. In addition, solutions to the problems of resource allocation and process of production, regeneration of ecological resources do not rest with the local people.

Our bureaucrats believe that the power to

acquire private property for public use is an attribute of sovereignty and is essential to

Five-Year Plans have displaced about five lakh persons each year primarily as a direct consequence of administrative land acquisition.

As a result of new ‘development’ policies of various regimes, people who have been displaced once are displaced – twice, thrice and finally disappear from the redtaped files of authorities. The other neg-

In most cases, the Land Acquisition Act is used to pay sarcastically low cash payment that is inadequate to restore and enhance standards of living. lected dimension of displacement is its adverse impact on women. Their suffering is compounded by the loss of access to fuel, fodder and food, the collection of which inevitably requires greater time and effort.

Our sophisticated rules and regulations stand as a hurdle in many cases for those eligible to compensation. In fact, in most

cases, the Land Acquisition Act is used to pay sarcastically low cash payment that is inadequate to restore and enhance standards of living. For example, of the 30,000 or more families displaced by the Pong dam in Himachal Pradesh, in the late 1960s, only 16,000 were found eligible for compensation. Finally, of the eligible only 3,756 were moved, to a completely different cultural, linguistic and ecological zone in Rajasthan.

Every development activity in every state has a similar story. For those, who lost their land, the compensated land was uncultivated because of many reasons. And surprisingly, there is not much official data available on displacement as a result of various projects.

Experience showed that those with assets and power prior to displacement gained most of the benefits while most of those belonging to poorer communities were left with unproductive lands and a few temporary jobs.

As a counter to these arguments, questions may rise stating ‘development is not possible without hurting anyone’. Our planners would be well adviced to consider the issues related to displacement and rehabilitation prior to or along with the ‘blue print’ of the project.

C.V. Subrahmanyam

Resettlement:

the existence of a government. So they continue to justify large scale acquisition of land saying that it is ‘for public good’.

The issue of displacement and resettlement has to be viewed within the broader question of distribution of power. Decisions on who should be displaced and what should be the treatment to them, the more powerful interests have continued to prevail, especially when they have encountered poor and politically weak populations. Studies conducted by various Non- Governmental Organisations shows that our much celebrated Five-Year Plans have displaced about five lakh persons each year primarily as a direct consequence of administrative land acquisition.

Hydroelectric and irrigation projects, especially dams are the main cause of displacement and, destruction of habitats.

Other major sources are mines (particularly open-cast mines), super thermal and nuclear power plants, industrial complexes, railways and super highways etc. Ironically, a considerable number of those displaced so far are tribals and other economically marginalised populations who have traditionally depended on the natural resources. For a majority of tribals, geographical space and their relationship with it has contributed to their cultural identity. Things like scattering of kinship groups and family systems, disorganisation of informal social networks that provide mutual support, weakening of selfmanagement and social control, disruption of trade and market links, labour etc. again worsen the scene. On the whole, the cultural identity of the community and the individual within it is disrupted, causing immense physical and psychological stress.

Leaders of people movements against forced displacement like Medha Padkar say that it is always a conscious tactic of the project authorities and the state government to divide the united resistance in to two. In fact, in several cases, displacement itself was presented as development. As a corollary, those who criticised these projects became not only anti-project or anti-development but also anti-national. The democratic activities of the critics of these projects are often treated as a public order problem.

The Simhadri Thermal Power plant at Paravada

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DEVELOPMENT

Indsustrialisation

North Andhra:Promise and paradox

Cheap manpower

Three disticts are becoming the hub for industrialization for various reasons.

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orth andhra is fast becoming a hub of industrialisation. Whether it is thermal power projects or nuclear power projects, companies are eager to invest in this region. thousands of acres have already been allocated to several private companies to start thermal power projects in the coastal area irrespective of its environmental/ecological importance. Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and srikakukalm districts come in north andhra. Visakhapatnam was declared one of the ten fastest growing cities of the world in a recent study conducted by the United nations. the reasons behind this are many from the geographical features and mineral wealth of the region to the recent political issues facing the state.

region play an important role in the growing level of industrialisation in the region.

Visakhapatnam sea port can be used to import the coal, an important raw material for the thermal power plants, from foreign countries. moreover, the ash waste from thermal power plants can be easily dumped into the sea. “sea is also a national resource like forest and water. But such a notion is

Development in this region has also been accompanied by heated debate, fierce, resistance and perceived state authoritarianism.

Geography the distinctive geographical features of the

not yet developed so far in the country,” said a central government employee who has been following the series of events in north andhra appealing condition of anonymity. “to cool the power plant, so much water is required. they can pump water without any cost if they have a natural resource like sea or a wetland is located besides the power plant,” he added.

says Joseph, a resident of the city. all thses transport facilities will enable smooth transportation of goods and employees as well. three major modes of transportation - road, railway and sea- are cheaply available.

Better transport facilities

Common property Resource Land (CpRL) which is spread over north andhra is another reason that attracts more firms. private land is not as easily available as CpRL. in ap these common resource lands is called as puramboku. CpRL is government owned land. But that never means that it is infertile. the very puramboku is used as pastoral lands for the cattle.

Unlike the other regions of ap, people of north andhra depend upon agriculture for livelihood. “But of late, people have a tendency to migrate to the nearby towns in search of better prospects. it never means that they quit agriculture. For this reason, land at times is left without cultivation,” says B. surendra Rao, a native of sompeta. in kakarapally and sompeta CpRL acts as fish ponds, wetlands and thus means of livelihood for the poor people. But government simply calls it as puramboku in technical terms. “it is a natural resource such as sea and forest. since it is not owned by people, government can’t straightaway sell it to private players,” added surendra Rao who fought against the proposed thermal power plant in sompeta. since it is CpRL, government can sell it to companies for cheap rates. For instance in kakarapally, land has been sold to the East Coast Company for a price of Rs 8000 per acre. “You can’t buy an acre of land for this cheap rate anywhere in ap,” says Eas

Better transport facilities available in the region also attract investors. Especially in north andhra, railway lines run parallel to both the coastal and the national highway. the work of 42 kms Bus Rapid transport system (BRts) is underway and the first phase is fast nearing completion.

Visakhapatnam has excellent connectivity to the rest of the country through rail, road and air. the city is well connected through sea as well. “Visakhapatnam airport would soon have international flights which would shoot up the value of the region exponentially,”

Midhun Raj U.

Industrialisation lies ahead: A view from ash pond of NTPC

another reason for the so called developmental activities to head for north andhra is availability of cheap manpower. “people in the villages are very poor and so companies can attract more people to work for them on lower wages,” points out suresh who is now an employee at the BhEL at Lingampalli. “the jobs they give us are that of watchman, sweeper etc... because other jobs need specific skills,” added suresh.

Availability of CPRL Google images

Mohammed Anvar Visakhapatnam

lidity through a title deed. But for the traditional right, it is not. hence, the people who have been using it for generations will have a rightful claim over it.

sarma, Forum for Better Vizag. as far as the government is concerned, it is legal. But some people who have been depending on this common property land for centuries to earn their bread and butter will lose their livelihood. here two problems have to be addressed simultaneously. One is simply the right to property and the other is the ‘traditional’ right to a property. Right to property, though it is not a fundamental right, gets legal va-

Highlights Lands allotted to various projects 3384 acres to NTPC, Simhadri, Vishakhapatnam 1078 acres to Nagarjuna Construction Comapny, Sompeta, Srikakulam 2000 acres to East Cost Energy Pvt Limitted, Bhavanapadu, Srikakulam 1200 acres to NPCIL. The remaining land is to be acquired from locals of Kovvada, Srikakulam

Political uncertainty politically speaking, some believe that Visakhapatnam is going to be the capital of andhra if telangana move succeeds and the state is bifurcated.

“Coastal andhra is getting more investments recently. One of the reasons for that might be this rumour” said Jawahar, a sociology research scholar. however development in this region has also been accompanied by heated debate, fierce, resistance and perceived state authoritarianism.

Cheaper land, transport and labourers are what companies hope to gain from north andhra.people’s right to depend on natural resources has been questioned while acquiring land for such projects. people’s illiteracy paradoxically becomes a resource to produce low wage labourers. the saddest part is that democratic government elected by people in this country is being used as an agent to impose all these wrongdoings in the name of development.General notion about the CpR is that since it is a government property, it can be used for developmental activities. Development at the cost of someone’s livelihood can be avoided. ap government’s recent decision to investigate the land allotment to mega projects since 2000

by Joint Legislative Council may address the issue because no government can survive without people’s support.

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DEVELOPMENT

Power Plant

Increasing energy demands have led to the contruction of more and more power plants. But most of the time, this results in grave problems for some. A case study. ­The­monstrous­cooling­towers­and­the­furnace­of­Simhadri­NTPC­plant.

T

Bipin Sebastian Visakhapatnam

he indian economy is witnessing a bull run. But to sustain the high growth rate, large amount of energy is required. as of now about 75% of the energy consumed in india is generated by the thermal power plants, most of which run on coal. the national thermal power Corporation is the largest public sector power generating corporation in india. it was formed in 1975 to look into the increasing power requirements of a fast developing nation. it currently has a capacity of 33194 mW. it runs

several power plants across india. it has coal, gas/liquid and hydroelectric power plant. more than 20% of the power that is consumed in the country is produced by ntpC. the corporation has also developed into a very efficient organisation that has earned it the status of a ‘maharatna’ public sector unit. the simhadri ntpC plant was set up to meet the ever growing developmental needs of the state of andhra pradesh. the ntpC simhadri plant, coupled with that in Ramagundam is providing around 20 million units of power daily. the former, a coal based plant is situated near parawada in Visakhapatnam district within a total land area of around 3384 acres. the re-

quired coal is brought in from the mahanadi Coal Fields in Orissa. the water required for cooling is drawn from the sea 8.4 kms away. the project also gets fresh water from the Yeluru Canal. the first boiler of the plant was ignited on november 6, 2001. as of now, the plant has an installed capacity of 1000 mW. the entire power generated in the plant goes to the state of andhra pradesh. however this efficiency comes with a price. the huge project has caused widespread displacement of the people living in the villages nearby. their means of livelihood also underwent sea change. the eco systems in the surroundings have also

taken a severe beating. sreenivas, who resides in one of the villages said, “ten years back there used to be lot of greenery in these parts. there also used to be large tracts of cultivated land. now this land is turned barren and infertile.” there are also allegations that the huge plant has led to health hazards in the communities residing nearby. the villagers say that even the ground water is polluted and not fit for drinking. many of them depend on the drinking water that is supplied by the government. “Everything has dust in it. Even the ground water is contaminated. We are subjected to lot of diseases including skin troubles. the compensation we get from ntpC is too paltry. But none of these facts will come in the media,” said prasad Rao, who

Midhun Raj U.

Our wants, their woes

stays in the pittavanipalem village, adjacent to the plant. he further said, “the ntpC management continues to refuse these facts and goes on saying that there is no pollution.”

But the ntpC officials at the plant try to paint a different picture. they claim that proper rehabilitation and resettlement was executed for all the affected. Environment protection has also been taken as part of their commitment to sustainable development. a senior official said, “We have built schools and hospitals for the affected. We also conduct frequent medical camps to provide medical services for the residents. We shall continue to do this as part of our corporate social responsibility.” another great challenge for the ntpC management to tackle is the ash waste that is generated from the plant. the coal that is burnt for power generation turns into ash. all the ash from the four different units is deposited into the ash pond. Each unit is linked to the ash pond through the ash dispensers. the ash dumped in the pond should be always kept wet so that it will not be dispersed by the wind. But this does not always happen. at times the ash reaches the neighbouring inhabited areas causing great distress to the people there. the ntpC officials, on the contrary, claim that the ash waste is properly taken care of. a senior official in an interview to a newspaper said that study was conducted by the andhra University. in that study , it was found that there were clearly no health problems due to the fly ash. in most of the thermal power plants, ash is a major byproduct and the firms usually find it difficult to dispose off with it. this in turn leads to environmental degradation and also problems for the people lliving nearby. he also said that the ntpC has evolved and developed a good ash utilisation mechanism. the major part of the ash is sold to several cement manufacturing units and also to firms that make other construction related goods. a seperate department at the ntpC, called the ash Utilisation Division is responsible for the safe and proper disposal of the ash. the division also carries out research on how to utiilise the fly ash through innovative ways.

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“The NTPC management continues to refuse the facts and goes on saying that there is no pollution,” says Prasad Rao, who lives nearby.

The Bottom Line But when all is said and done, there is something that the authorities and the people have to keep in mind. there are times when, for the larger good of the society, some kind of displacement becomes inevitable. For such ventures, the common man should be properly made aware of the need and proper rehabilitation and compensation should be ensured. here it is pertinent to point out something from history. india’s former president and one of the pioneer space scientists, Dr. a.p.J. abdul kalam, in his memoirs narrate the tale of how the first centre of indian space Research Organisation was established in a remote fishing village in kerala. When told about the importance of the space research centre for the well being of the country, the fishermen under the leadership of the Bishop, willingly agreed to relocate themselves. Eventually, they were properly rehabilitated elewhere. Later the entire space establishment of india was built from the contribution of those poor fishermen.

Highlights Some facts The first boiler was ignited in 2001 with 500MW capacity.

As of now the plant generates 1000 MW electricity.

All of it is consumed by the state of Andhra Pradesh.

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DEVELOPMENT

Concerns of the Plant

Manipulated concerns Nagarjuna Construction Company embarked on a massive thermal power project in Sompeta in Srikakulam district. Here is a brief look at how the company addressed the environmental concerns.

Arnima Rao Sompeta

W

hy was a Thermal Power Plant proposed at Sompeta?

thermal power plant requires large quantities of Coal and Water. Sompeta in ap is close to mahanadi Coal fields and it is also well connected by east Coast railway line and NH- 5.

What is the background of NCC? Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd., has a track record of more than 29 years. the company’s operations are certified to be ISo 9001 compliant since 2001. NCC has executed various infrastructure projects like Roads, Buildings, electrical transmission works, Water Systems, Irrigation projects, Light engineering projects and power projects. It has a strong presence in power Sector.

How this Power Project is different from other Thermal Projects? this power plant and facilities will be installed with 660 mW units by adopting state-of-the-art Super Critical technology.

Use of super critical technology will improve the heat rate and efficiency of the plant. earlier, power plants had an efficiency range of 30-37%. By using super critical technology the efficiency is increased to more than 40%. For every 1% increase in the efficiency, certain specific

emissions will be reduced by 2%. therefore, the overall reduction will be a minimum of 6% by this process.

(CemS) will be provided for regular monitoring and control of emissions.

• all the emissions will be maintained within the prescribed limits of CBCp.

How is the waste water disposed or treated?

Cooling tower (Ct) blow-down and Reverse osmosis (Ro) brine water will be discharged to sea as per the prescribed norms of Central pollution Control Board. the Ct blow down and brine water is not allowed to mix-up with any other plant water.

Water recovered from the etp (effluent treatment plant) will be sent to a guard pond and this recycled water will be reused for ash handling plant, coal handling plant and green belt. oily waste water from various plants will be treated in oily waste treatment plant and recycled water will be sent to guard pond. Waste oil will be collected in oil drums and disposed to various entrepreneurs.

Waste water from canteen, toilets and service water waste will be treated in sewage treatment plant.

What measures are proposed to minimize air/water/noise pollution levels?

Air Emissions: • effect of Flue gas emissions released from chimney will be dispersed at a height of 275 mtr above the ground level.

• So2 will be controlled by using coal with low sulphur content (0.6%) and by providing 275 mtr height chimney.

• Dust suppression and dust extraction systems with water sprinklers will be provided in coal and ash handling systems.

• Continuous emission monitoring System

Water: • Waste waters are treated separately the in effluent treatment plant (etp) and sewage treatment plant and are used for green belt, coal/ash dust suppression system, etc.

• ash pond will be provided with impervious lining to avoid leaching of filtrate and hence avoiding ground water contamination Noise: • the plant shall be operated by using efficient machinery with acoustic enclosures which will maintain the noise levels within the prescribed range of 7585 db. the noise levels in the plant will not disturb the peace and tranquility of neighboring villages.

Regular monitoring of environmental parameters will be ensured to assess the status of environment during project construction and plant operation and immediate measures will be taken care to keep them within limits.

How will ash be disposed?

Government mandated for complete utilization of ash generated within 3 years. an effective ash management plan for 100% utilization of fly ash will be implemented. only 255 acres is envisaged for ash pond. a large number of cement industries are utilizing fly ash which will provide local entrepreneurs to set up brick manufacturing units on commercial scale.

What benefits will accrue from the project to the people of Srikakulam district in general and people of Sompeta in particular? the proposed power plant will stimulate the growth of industrial and commercial activities in and around Sompeta by improving the availability of power. the proposed plant would require significant workforce of non-technical & technical persons. the project seeks to provide direct/indirect employment to persons of different skills and trades. the employment potential will improve the economic conditions of

these families directly and provide employment to many other families indirectly who are involved in business and service oriented activities.

Will a large number of villagers be displaced?

CSR activities Good intentions The following activities were proposed by Corporate Social Responsibility in areas such as Infrastructure Development, Education & Training, Social Infrastructure and Health.

1) Drinking water facilities 2) Construction of Anganwadi buildings.

No. more and more settlements are likely to come around such mega projects, with increased employment opportunities and increased standards of living.

3) Construction of toilets, bore wells & storage tanks in schools.

Will the Proposed Project create any new diseases and Health Problems for the Local Population?

5) Conduct of medical camps.

With the use of latest state-of-the-art technology in power plants, no health problems have been reported with in the vicinity. Now and then we hear that some people in certain villages situated near operating thermal power plant have complained about occasional respiratory problem. Interaction with the doctors who had worked in thermal power plants has revealed that, the patients visiting them were with complaints of routine seasonal health problems such as cold, fever etc. there were rarely any cases of diarrhea. there were generally no new cases of ill health related to establishment of the power plant. there were no significant complaints pertaining to either dust allergy or asthma.

In most of the cases family history was traced to the cause for any such problem.

Complaints of hypertension and diabetes were also few. Habits such as heavy smoking and consumption of alcoholic drinks, lack of awareness of hygiene etc were found to be the root cause in most cases.

7) Skill development training programmes to be organized in collaboration with State Institute of Fishery Technology (SIFT), Government of AP, National Academy of Construction (NAC), Government of India and District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) to the land losers who have given the land on one to one mutual agreement and others in the impact area to explore the possibility of improving their employment opportunity.

4) Construction of Bus shelters.

6) Improvement of village drains.

8) Extension of support for strengthening medical facilities in the Primary Health Centers.

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developmenT

Up and Going

A village resurrected torrential rain in the village of Kodipunjuvalasa resulted in loss of lives and property. their journey back to life is a tale of hardship and hope.

C Jamsheel Kodipunjuvalasa

The rain and flowing water resulted in a landslide killing 20 people. Tanks and canals infringed resulting in crop loss and roads were smashed.

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Midhun Raj U.R.

I

t had been raining for the last three days.

This was not the first time the inhabitants of Kodipunjuvalasa, a village in northern andhra had seen a shower of this magnitude. The scene was not unfamiliar, but the tribes of the village knew there was something bad coming their way. on the wee hours of august 4, 2006 the villagers lost everything when the nature showed its face of fury. Most huts were uprooted along with trees and earth when the flowing water consumed everything on its way.

The hill located behind the tiny huts was partially destroyed due to the heavy rain. The rain and flowing water resulted in a landslide eaten away, killing 20 people. Tanks and canals were infringed, resulting in crop loss, and roads were smashed. This dark day has not faded away from the minds of the people here.

“You will never be able to imagine what we went through that day. Big boulders came down, the mud and sand flowed through our fields and some beloved, smiling faces too were washed away,” T Madhu, a farmer from the hamlet wiping his tears.

The district administration had acted

Nature’s fury: One of the houses that was destroyed in the landslide. swiftly and did its best to reduce the damage to life and property. “We were not able to do anything at that time. if we didn’t get the help from the authority and kind hearted people the loss might have been greater”, he added “The torrential rain not only smashed our huts and took the lives of our beloved ones, but it also wiped out our livelihood. The soil is not useful for cultivation anymore as the land became infertile. We were forced to shift our livelihood to that of a coolie”, rued janimoddu, an inhabitant of Kodipunjuvalasa.

The tribals had demanded for five lakhs rupees as damages for the families, who lost their beloved ones in the mudslide. The reparation had rightful reason as it was to build their village from scratch. But the government addressed the demands partially.

“Former Chief Minister Y.s. Rajashekara Reddy visited us and announced an ex-gratia of three lakhs to each family, who lost their life in the heavy rain. all victims of the landslide got 95,000 rupees compensation from the government. The compensation in-

Vantage 2011

cludes Rs. 35,000 for construction of houses and Rs. 60,000 for buying livestock.” said Bheemanna, an inhabitant of Kodipujuvalasa village.

The people here hold no grudge against nature for it has always been their provider.

They are happy with their present occupation.

Their other thought is to put their infertile land to good use.

“How can we curse others for our fate, it was really a challenge for us to recover from the untoward incident. But we had to get out from those bad memories as no one will fill our kids’ stomach,” janirambha, a mother of three, speaking with determination in her eyes. “and life goes on; we shared our pain and worked hard to re build our community, burying any differences. it took us around two years to get back on our feet”, she added This is the real story of Kodipunjuvalasa tribal village of araku Mandal in the vishakapatanam district. How the people of this village overcame this disaster is a symbol of strong will, determination and hard work.

Pg 15, 16, 17 Sompeta Backgrounder:Layout 1 4/6/2011 3:34 PM Page 1

For Survival

Gangadhar

RESISTANCE

A victim of the police firing in Sompeta, July 14, 2010

The struggle still continues‌ The people of Sompeta are still fighting for the GO to stop the power plant construction.

Shiva Krishna Gundra Srikakulam

T

he victory of the people of Sompeta in stopping the proposed thermal power plant came with loss of two lives. While they have succeeded in halting the construc-

tion, the struggle to make it a Government Order still continues.

The 196 km coastal area of Srikakulam district has two lakh eighty thousand fishermen depending on fishing for their livelihood. Sompeta is located in the northern part of the district five kilometers away from the sea and comprises 24 fishermen villages.

This terrain consists of the unique system of coastal wetland locally known as beela which supports a rich variety of biodiversity.

The government proposed that a thermal power plant be constructed by Nagarjuna Construction Company of 2640 mW capacity with rs.12,000 crores. according to the official records read by Home minister,

15 VANTAGE 2011

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For Survival

the interests of the NCC,” said E.a.S. Sabitha indra reddy in aP legislative asSarma. sembly on 15th July, 2010 saying that 650 “The wet lands were The consultants who prepare Environacres of land was bought from the villagers shown as waste lands ment impact assessment (Eia) reports on and andhra Pradesh industrial infrastructure industrial projects are required to evaluate Corporation (aPiiC) gave 973 acres of land and said that it could objectively the impact of a given project on and gave it to the NCC. These lands are lonot be used for the people and the surrounding environcated in rushi kudda, Gollakundra, Barucultivation. We have ment. The Eia manual published by the vapeta and Benkili villages of Srikakulam mOEF provided the necessary guidelines district. been farming for years E.a.S. Sarma, former union Power Secon these lands how can for this. The Eia report on Sompeta failed to conform to the format. retary, about the project said: “The project they be waste lands” all the reports that were submitted to the would burn 34,245 tonnes of coal, spewing government to get license were misrepreout about 14,380 tonnes of ash and deposit sented. “The wet lands were shown as waste 226 tonnes of Sulphur daily.” “it will also generate significant quantities of other toxic doctors, traders and farmers formed a peo- lands and said that it could not be used for pollutants such as mercury, lead, zinc, cad- ples’ organization called Paryavarana Pari- cultivation. We have been farming for years mium, arsenic and chromium. Some pollu- rakshana committee which later turned as on these lands how can they be waste lands” tants could be radioactive. The plant will ‘Paryavarana Parirakshana Sangham’ (PPS). argued Sree rama murthy Naidu, Sarpanch consume 250 million cubic meters of water The people of Sompeta visited the Simhadri of lakkavaram village. “Even mandal revThermal Power Project, Vizag and inter- enue Officer and District Collector misrepdrawn from the sea,” he further said.

He added, “There was no mention of the acted with the people in the surroundings resented the facts saying that fifty percent of site as a part of wet land and there was no and learned about the danger that the power people don’t have any problem with the mention of ramsar convention on wetlands plant would create. The people also con- project” he added.

The Human rights activist Dr. Balthat required in the reports that were tended that the NCC didn’t even take the submitted” telling about the documents mandatory certificate of no objection from agopal and retired scientist from indian institute of Chemical Sciences submitted to the ministry of Dr. Babu rao also played a Environment and Forests Highlights major role in educating people (mOEF). by conducting many public “The beela is visited by 123 meetings. types of birds from other parts The project would burn 34,245 tonnes of coal, spewing The agitation broke into viof the world which come for out about 14,380 tonnes of ash and deposit 226 tonnes olence driven by the fury of breeding and nesting. The of Sulphur daily. the villagers on 14th July, proposed power plant would 2010, when the NCC tried to destroy their migration causing enter the site to level and mark pollution. 500 acres of ash It will also generate significant quantities of other toxic the landscape for the proposed ponds would damage one lakh pollutants such as mercury, lead, zinc, cadmium, arsenic thermal power plant construcfifty thousand farmers land,” and chromium. Some pollutants could be radioactivea. tion. People from all neighsaid Thammineni rama rao, bouring villages gathered at member of Paryavarana Parithe site to protest. The police rakshana Sangham (PPS).

The plant will consume 250 million cubic meters of water force along with the hired rowPeople of Sompeta came to drawn from the sea. dies from NCC beat the know about the proposed villagers mercilessly. thermal power through news“We went to stop the conpapers. Farmers like m struction work unarmed but raghavaiah from mandapalli, rama murthy from akasalakkavaram and the andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board there were police battalion already in place with lathi in hands. The NCC rowdies with Venkata ramanand Palaka Chandraiah from (aPPCB).

“Beginning with the inception of the Eia blue scarves and head bands had beaten up neighbouring village who worked in a power plant in Chityal earlier had an idea of report till the ministry of Environment and the children, women and old people,” said the adverse effects of the plant. They then Forests accorded Environment Clearance ambatti Hema raju, farmer of the studied the pros and cons of the power (EC) for the project; the authorities at almost akasalakkavaram village.

The resident of lakkavaram, Vasudev, plants. The local professionals, advocates, every level misrepresented the facts to suit

Gangadhar

RESISTANCE

The police placed at the village of Vadditandra which is the focal point for the agitation.

68 year old man explained: “Police and rowdies brutally injured us. The police used tear gas and even opened firing at the villagers with rubber bullets without any warning.

Two people were killed in the firing. G. krishna murthy from akasalakkavaram and Joga rao from Palasapuram” But the official version is entirely different. Home minister Sabitha indra reddy in the assembly said that the violent mob was armed and did not listen to the police warnings. “The villagers attacked the police with sticks and rods. So in self defense, police had to open firing,” said Sabitha indra reddy. But the footage

showed in the news channels shows that unarmed men, woman and children were beaten up badly by the police.

“Thousands of policemen came to our villages and moved on the roads in front of our houses. They warned us not to come out of our houses and scared us,” said the angry Vikram, a graduate student.

“We are agitating since six months. But government didn’t listen to us. media also didn’t cover the agitation. it is the firing incident that dragged the media attention and then media started telecasting the agitation,” said T. rama rao, Vice President of the PPS.

16

People of this area are strongly opposing the project. They took it to the notice of the government many times to stop the work.

They maintain that the community not consulted and their opinion was not considered in the so called development project which aimed at the public.

This issue became a national issue. The project construction has been suspended for now. But government did not pass any order to stop the construction People are still on hunger strike even eight months after the firing incident and urging government to pass the GO to cancel the power plant from the site.

17 VANTAGE 2011

VANTAGE 2011

Pg 18 media story:Layout 1 4/6/2011 2:10 PM Page 1

BACK OF THE BOOK

Media & Society

Seeing beyond the visible As media makes its presence felt, its role is once again under scrutiny.

Nikhil MG Hyderabad “…the agitators then turned their ire at media persons alleging that the media had ignored their movement against the power plant and that it had colluded with the management. Five media personnel were injured and the condition of one other was stated to be serious. The mob burnt five vehicles that belonged to the press…” read one of the articles in The Hindu. Such was the fate of media during the agitations in Srikakulam. vidently, media is no longer the neutral participant or the innocuous observer that it was once considered to be. It plays the most critical role among the institutions that create and control the public sphere. The fact that it can reach people and influence their opinions gives it that much more power. This power has been questioned and scrutinized throughout the evolution of media. Some believe that media is a voice for the voiceless, while some say that media takes issues out of context and what it reports is usually almost the truth but never all the truth.

Media’s coverage of the agitations in Sompeta and Kakarapalli has been appreciated and criticized alike by many.

Sri N.balasubramanyam, IPS, deputy IGP, Intelligence, Hyderabad, believes that media does not try and understand the situation in its entirety. It is often carried away by the events that occur on the fore, while ignoring the intrinsic issues that lead to these events. He believes that media becomes excessively pro-people by portraying all other parties involved (state, judiciary) as negative and irresponsible forces. In a broader context, he asks, what gives media such an authority to override the legitimacy of the state? The media has constantly placed the police force in bad light by portraying its actions as ruthless and inappropriate. In defense, he points out to the headlines like, ‘Police fires at 3000 protestors in Sompeta’

E

18

and ‘2 killed, 25 hurt in police firing’, that have become increasingly common in the press in recent times. He suggests that media must take a step backward and look beyond what is already visible for a broader perspective. It is vital that the media relies solely on firsthand experience to report rather than simply reporting what one hears and reads.

On the contrary, eaS Sarma, a former energy secretary, is of the opinion that media has been able to effectively communicate the message of the farmers and fishermen of these villages to the government.

It has worked towards giving the people’s judgments – judgments that were otherwise unlikely to be heard – a strong foothold in the state’s decision making processes. The media have been acting as a watchdog is reporting the wrongdoings of the government and making it act more responsibly.

He considers media to be of vital importance in resolving conflicts between the authority and the public. It is the tool the oppressed can make use of to challenge the unlawful activity of the oppressors. a complete departure from these views about media is the opinion of the anguished villagers who strongly believe that media is

ever so occupied in presenting the abnormalities and tragedies that it has little time to even attempt finding solutions to their problems or easing their pain. Other villagers say that media is kind enough to visit them regularly and listen to their problems but that’s the extent of it. There has never been any change in their sordid lives despite the hopeful picture the media presents during each of its engagements with them.

Most of us would find ourselves on one or other side of this debate. What is intriguing is the contrast between these opinions about media. This contrast subliminally questions the role media must play in our society. Is media just another word that has come to mean bad journalism? - a means to attract and influence gullible audience for monetary gains. Has it become synonymous with activism? Or is it a change agent for growth and development that enlightens and educates the society it functions in?

The answer to these questions can be arrived at without doubt. but the challenge lies in transforming these humanistic themes in to a pragmatic human reality that can at least contribute for a better society if not an ideal one.

Highlights Perceptions about media Media is often carried away by the events that occur on the fore, while ignoring the intrinsic issues that lead to these events.

Media is the tool the oppressed can make use of to challenge the unlawful activity of the oppressors.

Media is so occupied in presenting the tragedies that it has little time to even attempt finding solutions to the problems.

VANTAGE 2011

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DEVELOPMENT

Alternatives

The powerful alternative Efficient use of electricity is the only way to meet the growing demands of power Rahul V. Pisharody Vishakapatnam

T

he Eastern coast of andhra pradesh, which is turning into a breeding ground for power projects, presents a set of rising concern for ecologists and environmentalists. there are about 19 active thermal power plants and 25 proposed thermal power plants in the state as on september 22, 2010; according to official sources. the state has also proposed to establish three nuclear power plants at kovvada in srikakulam, nizampatnam in Guntur district and pulivendula in kadapa district.

Developing countries across the globe consider electricity as their prime requirement in their race towards development and self-sufficiency. more and more power plants are being set up or being proposed just to meet the power demands of the growing industry. Considering the amount of power consumed per day by industry, household consumptions account for a mere minimum share. power generation in our country depends majorly on hydel, thermal, petroleum and natural gas. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources.

Environmentalists are propagating the use of green energy which has minimal impacts on the earth and its climate. the green energy sources are also termed as clean en-

ergy sources which utilize the natural energy which is abundantly available on earth.

Wind Energy the harnessing of winds blowing across the country by turbines to produce electricity is a source of green electricity. With recent developments, turbines now make less noise and are super efficient. in future, it is very much likely to find wind turbines situated at sea shores and the nearby areas will be receiving electricity from these wind farms.

Solar Energy Enormous amount of energy received from the sun can be converted into electricity and utilized accordingly. this procedure involves the use of solar photovoltaic modules which effectively convert solar power into electricity through the semiconductor technology. the introduction of passive solar approach involves construction of buildings which maximizes the absorption of solar energy. the solar energy so accumulated can be used for varied purposes such as lighting and heating.

Water Energy the generation of electricity by using water turbines is a relatively old concept. today it caters to slightly more than 1% of total electricity produced. the need of the hour is to develop small scale hydro power stations which generate enough electricity to cater to local areas and do not cause much damage to the local ecosystem.

Biomass Use of specially grown plants or agriculture waste to generate fuel is another way of

generating renewable energy. By burning these plants to generate electricity, absorbed carbon dioxide is released which is not harmful to the atmosphere. however, there have been cases where forests have been cleared to grow special energy crops to be used as biomass which is a definite cause of concern. the decomposition of rubbish in the landfill releases methane gas. this methane gas is burnt in a gas turbine in order to generate electricity. instead of releasing methane into air which is a powerful greenhouse gas, it would be advisable to burn it off and generate electricity. the developed countries advocate the use of energy from renewable sources. Ecologists argue against the installation of thermal and nuclear power plants in our country bringing forward instances from the developed countries where they no longer prefer setting up of such plants. this is because they now clearly understand the ecological and social hazards and still does not move back from propagating such plants in the developing countries; the only reason being the blind market demand and desperation of the developing nations to par with the developed ones. the efficient use of electricity is the only way to the growing needs of power.

Effectiveness needs to be brought in through the use of renewable sources of energy in a commercialized manner right from the grassroots. awareness is a key factor, which has to be instilled into the minds of people so that they think twice before locking their rooms and leaving home, to switch of all the lights and fans.

19 VANTAGE 2011

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Growth Barriers

Shruthi B. Shetty Vishakhapatnam

W

hy does the state take forcible action, resort to police firing, leading to the deaths and injuries of poor farmers for something illegal? On 28 February, the kakrapalli villagers, protesting against the construction of a thermal power plant in their area, faced police aggression, leading to deaths and injuries. “it is inexplicable how a responsible state has acceded to the proposed power plants in and around Vizag. it is far more inexplicable how mOEF (ministry of Environment and Forests) has started clearing these plants, project-by-project, without looking at the cumulative impact of such a large number of plants on the lives of the people and their environment. instead of discharging its obligation under article 48a of the Constitution, it will create a pollution hub,” explains E.a.s.sarma, former Union power secretary. the state funds have been doled out to favored persons and companies through concessions in terms of cheap land, subsidized electricity and water and heavy tax concessions. “in the guise of ‘promoting’ industry, the state has always weakened its regulatory agencies, encouraged violation of environment and other laws,” says E.a.s. sarma, former Union power secretary. “no evaluation has ever been attempted to assess the relative costs/ benefits of handing over unit area of land,” adds sarma. the state has started handing over large tracts of public and private lands to industry, sEZs, ports etc. Land acquisition act was invoked by the state to forcibly displace private landholders under the guise of “public purpose” and handed over to profiteering private industry. “the wetlands which were earmarked as Common property Resource Lands were tagged as ‘waste lands’, taken away from people and handed over for the project purpose,” says a reliable source.

Suppression of facts and feelings

The symbiotic link between local ecology and livelihood seems to have been ignored the sompeta nagarjuna Construction Company (nCC) has 1,890 acres out of which 1,046 acres is public land & 844 acres is private land. Out of 1,046 acres, 400 acres is occupied by a stream & the rest wetlands. as per official record, out of 1,047 acres of public land, 110 acres is cultivated by small/ marginal farmers, one acre under a stream and 41 acres within the zone prohibited for industry under Coastal Regulated Zone demarcation. “there are three Lift irrigation projects based on water from these wetlands. they irrigate 750 acres. traditional fishing is going on here for generations. more than 1000 families depend on this

wetland system. it is a nesting & feeding ground for migratory species of birds,” says sarma. instead of arguing for environmental protection, the official reports of the state became advocates of nCC. this can be euphemistically called public-private partnership where, nCC which is predominantly a construction company has easily barged into setting up a power plant. the Eia (Environment impact assessment) which was required to objectively evaluate the impact of the project on the people and the surrounding environment, failed to do so. Existence of wetlands was not reported by Eia, a consulate commissioned by nCC. no

reference was made to india’s obligations under Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (see page ), Bio-diversity Convention and Convention on protection of migratory species of birds (see page ). moreover, the land was described as ‘waste’ and ‘uncultivable’. the presence of lift irrigation projects were not at all talked about and the socio-economic costs/benefits were not evaluated. according to sarma, “Gram sabhas/ panchayats were forced to pass resolutions supporting the project. the existence of water bodies which should have been identified by the District Collector’s department and prohibited for industry was not considered. initially, the land cultivated by poor farmers were excluded, later was proposed to hand over to nCC. however, this fact was misreported to state human Rights Commission.”

Despite the fact that the state pollution Control Board had not issued the mandatory Consent for Establishment authorization to nCC, the District Collector provided support to nCC to enter the site and start construction on 14 July, 2010 and allowed force to be used to suppress opposition from the people. make available to the state 100% of its power at a competitive rate Even after the 14 July incident, the state authorities continued determined by the Centre and provide a pollution-free environment. the power plant in turn has led to the ash dumping and the conto misrepresent to the state Legislative assembly about the nature sequent problems of pollution. of the land, the loss of livelihoods and the feelings of the people. the story of the other projects is no different. Environment clearEnvironment (protection) act, 1986 requires “prior” approval for a project developer to start any construction activity, but mOEF ances are obtained through large scale misrepresentation of the facts has consistently winked at it, weakening itself. mOEF’s environ- by the district authorities who act in collusion with the political leadment clearance is, not based on a cumulative impact assessment for ership and the senior officials of the state. no comprehensive envithe region. it is not fully compliant with mOEF’s own Green tri- ronment impact assessment study is carried out to determine whether the land can bear the cumulative polbunal, as its officials have been plainly lution load of such high power generations. passing the project proposals coming the state appears to have ignored the symtheir way.

Public participation biotic link that exists between the local ecology however, nEaa (national Environin decision making has and the livelihoods of the people. it has delibment appellate authority) visited the site erately set aside its own Constitutional obligato assess the ground conditions. it been ignored tion under article 48a to protect the quashed the environment clearance for environment and under article 21 to safeguard sompeta on the grounds that, clearance was obtained through misrepresentation of facts; site is a wetland the citizen’s right to life. it has ignored the established public trust Doctrine in transferring ecologically significant lands to private supporting livelihoods; its diversion for industry is objectionable. “the government continued to use force to evict the villagers. ownership. it has violated the precautionary principle that places there were issues of- cases filed against the agitating people, in- the onus on itself of proving that these projects do not endanger the cluding pps; threats of arrest; no cases filed against nCC employ- health of the people and the ecology.

Even though the project proposals were subjected to several ees,” says a reliable source. simhadri (national thermal power Corporation) is an existing clearances, the projects were easily accepted. the state has ignored plant with ongoing expansion. the state’s original proposal was to the “public trust” principle of safeguarding the common heritage hand over the land to a private company for a power plant in a non- ecology of the wetlands. it has ignored the need for public particitransparent manner. ntpC, which is a public sector company owned pation in decision making which represents the essence of democby the Central government, gave specific assurance that it would ratized development.

21

20 VANTAGE 2011

VANTAGE 2011

Soumya Mukherjee

RESISTANCE

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RESISTANCE

Cover Story

Development at what cost?

State­supresses­all­voices­against­its­development­activities.­Kakarapalli­suffers­with­the­same­fate.

Midhun Raj U. Hyderabad

Instance

Like­many­others,­Mandala­Vimalamma’s­family members­were­also­arrested­in­agitation.

A

s you enter the village Vadditandra, what do you see? “burnt huts, broken houses, damaged lives and lost hopes.” When a peaceful protest met the armor of the state power, the situation in Vadditandra showcased what would happen to the appraisal.

Coast energy Pvt. Ltd. (eCePL) is located in ecologically sensitive wetland systems for the conservation of which Ministry of environment and Forest (MoeF) and State environment and Forest department (SeFd) were committed statutorily under the ramsar International Treaty on Wetland Conservation. by violating the orders of the national environmental appellate authority (neaa), land levelling work was being carried out in more than 1,317 acres it was allowed to hold on to. This has resulted in repeated flooding of the farm land causing grief to farmers.

Gaining momentum from the Sompeta protest, villagers said they will continue the dharna and other modes of non-violent fight until the government stop the project.

Life in agony: Mandala Vimalamma and her grandchildren before their burned house

State brutality portrayed Shiva Krishna VaddITandra

the naupada swamp, damaged the sensitive ecology of the area.

Understanding problems with thermal power plants, locals, primarily fisher folk and farmers staged a non-cooperation dharna against setting up of the company in Kakarapalli village. When the construction process began, the agitation turned almost violent.

Paradoxically, the report sent to MoeF for environmental clearance stated that this swamp is not a wetland but a dry, waste land, says e.a.S Sarma, former Union Power Secretary. 123 Indigenous bird species have been found from this area in a survey done by bombay natural History Society. a panel headed by dr. asad r. rahmani of bombay natural History Society and Prof. asha rajvanshi of Wild Life Institute after visiting the proposed site found that the sites allotted to east

The villagers got to know the harmful effects of thermal power project that would cause to their environment and to their livelihood. Then the villagers started opposing the thermal power plant for many days in a democratic way. The villagers obstructed the vehicles which tried to enter the project site which led to the violence between the police and the mob. This was followed by firing of rubber bullets that killed

22 Vantage 2011

Highlights

­Vadditandra-­still­suffering Vadditandra locates at Santabommali Mandal at Srikakulam district.

550 families of fishing, farming and salt producing communities dependent on the wet land for livelihood.

The 2,460 MW East Coast Energy Thermal power station has been constructing in these wet lands.

two people and left many injured.

The village looks like a battle field filled with tension. There are families living without family heads who were arrested and living in the houses without roofs and walls. In this case study, the family of Mandala Vimalamma, a resident of the village faces terrible situation. Her daughter narayanamma

Rahul V. Pisharody

E

ast Coast energy Pvt. Ltd (eCePL) is setting up a 2,640MW thermal power plant in bhavanapadu, Srikakulam district. n 2,050 acres are cleared including ecologically fragile swamp area. n Violating norms of the Ministry of environment and Forests (MoeF), eCePL excavates and fills-up swamp area. n Telineelapuram bird sanctuary is just 5km from the plant. n The marshland is the main source of sustenance for the local farmers and fisher folk.

It is not uncommon for the state to suppress dissenting voice against its developmental activities. On February 28, 2011; police fired rubber and plastic bullets against villagers protesting against the thermal power plant in Kakarapalli. Two people lost their lives and many were injured. Police burned the thatched roofs of the villagers in Vadditandra and hurled tear gas shells at them. Many were taken into custody and remain locked up.

Our constitution ensures each of its citizens the ‘right to life’.

So what is the crime that these villagers are being punished for? before the protest turned violent, why did the state deploy force with lethal weapons? and whose interests are being protected here?

Government has often dismissed these questions as ‘allegations’.

The bhavanapadu thermal power plant, located right next to

Pg 22, 23, 24, 25,26, 27 cover story final:Copy 4/6/2011 3:43 PM Page 3

RESISTANCE

Cover Story

PERSPECTIvE

Suffering to live in dignity "If­you­are­to­suffer,­you­should­suffer­in­the interest­of­the­country."­-­Jawaharlal­Nehru, speaking­to­villagers­to­be­displaced­by­the Hirakud­Dam,­1948.

Lakkavaram said the same, ”Let us live. We don’t want development that pollutes our water and land.” “do you think we would have benefited by giving up our land? It’s a big no. Who wants to enjoy the electricity, when we will be begging in the streets of big cities like yours? are we villagers only meant to suffer?” said a woman who preferred to maintain her anonymity.

For the local women the beela and tampara (wetlands) are a source of tunga and pon-

self help groups were informed about the

nanga grasses, using which they make mats

Dhanusha Damodaran

power project and had a greater role in mo-

and baskets, a secondary source of income

SOMPeTa, VaddITandra

bilising people. Forming small groups, they

for many. The proposed project had not only

reached out to every household explaining

environmental impacts, but also had eco-

the gravity of the issue. and, for a practical

nomic and social fallouts.

I

Midhun Raj U.

t was a day of revelations. Our journey

started from Sompeta, where

In the police firing of July 14,

villagers had been protesting

2010, the calm broke into violence

for the last two years against the

and many of the women involved

proposed power plant by the nagar-

in the movement suffered in the

juna

hands of the police. bandalla Se-

children and feed them. We can eat only if

the agitation duvvada Sreenu and others

(nCC), and the day ended at Vad-

shamma, an elderly woman who

on February 25, 2011 and till date she does

we work daily. We have no work for the past

who were arrested taken to Srikakulam sub

ditandra where two people were

was heavily injured was beaten up

not have any information about them. Her

ten days and children are crying of hunger.

jail”, said Gayathri narayana, a neighbour

killed in the recent police firing.

by the police inside the ambulance

three grand children who are very young of

no one is here to help us,” she added.

of the home. “Most of the villagers feared

When those who suffer in the in-

“118 of our villagers were dragged out

that the police would enter breaking through

terest of the nation, arise and find

of their homes and arrested. The leader of

their homes and would arrest them if they

the strength to fight for land and

less than age five years are with her whose mother was arrested.

Construction

Midhun Raj U

Company

and husband Mandala rushi were arrested

on the way to hospital.

However at Sompeta, villagers managed to get the environmental

“The police took my daughter and hus-

stay back. So most of the villagers went to

water, they have to face the gun.

clearance, previous awarded to

band ten days ago. I don’t know whether

far off places,” said narayana who also lost

That is what Sompeta and Vaddi-

nCC to be scrapped by the Min-

they are alive or not. I don’t know what to

his house in the police bombing.

tandra tells us. Scores of women

istry of environment and Forests.

do. These children are crying for their mother,” said Vimalamma. “They came and bombed our homes. Our house collapsed and we have no place to stay,” she mourned showing at her collapsed house which has only the standing walls.

The family’s main occupation is fishing

“They came and bombed our homes.

Our house collapsed and we have no place to stay.”

Vadditandra

The place is with fear stricken people

have experiences to tell about the

worried about what would happen next.

hard times they had been through

Most of the politicians visited the place and

and are still undergoing.

game little sum of money for the families.

Sompeta

but there is no proper alternative provided

The tale of Sompeta is about the people’s

“The role of women fisher folk, more or

detention. It was all because the fishing

for them to live. The government till now

uprising, especially women. It was women

less resembled public relations work. They

community here, who are going to get af-

didn’t announce any package for them to re-

who initiated the movement. The local ac-

utilised their time of business for making

fected by the bhavanapadu Thermal Power

Chained to adorn

at Vadditandra we were received by the sight of burned houses, crying children, old

experience they visited nTPC, Simhadri.

women crying names of their beloveds in

which is at halt due to the present situation.

pairing or re-constructing their houses. The

tivists dr. y. Krishna Murthy, b. dhilli rao

others aware of the movement,” said a re-

Plant, under construction, protested against

They could not even have meals once in a

people of the village are still waiting for the

and Sundara rao played the part of organ-

searcher.

it. The women started a hunger strike

day. “It is hard for me to take care of these

helping hands.

ising them.Women who worked with the

Whoever we met at Pallasapuram and

24

against the construction of power plant by

25 Vantage 2011

Vantage 2011

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RESISTANCE

Cover Story

Reality

Losing life to retain land

The­peaceful­gathering­turned­violent­as­the police­fired­bullets­on­the­unarmed­civilians.

On the day of agitation all the villagers of various villages of Sompeta were requested to attend the meeting without carrying any arms. The officials of the nCC were told that meeting will be a platform to express their worries and concerns of the setting up of a power plant. but later the police and the goons of the nCC attacked the unarmed civilians.

Gonapa rajulu, sister in law of another

Rajita Godasu

Gangadhar

SOMPeTa

Tyrannized lives: Fisher folk women gathered at the community temple, Vadditandra

T

The family is now dependent on the

deceased Gonapa Krishnamurthy said,” we

compensation money, as they don’t have

did not carry any arms, and people were

any other financial sources. Commenting on

frightened when they heard the firing. We

he Sompeta agitation against the

the government job Mr.Vijay Kumar a close

didn’t know what to do, everyone one of us

proposed power plant of nagarjuna

relative to the family said “the government

were running to save our lives. They didn’t

Construction Company (nCC) on

officials were not responding positively

even spare the women and the children.

July 14, 2010 led to the killing of two per-

when we inquired about the job. We don’t

sons and injured many. The meeting be-

know whether we will get it or not”.

tween the officials and people which

The media didn’t give any attention to the agitation till two people were killed.

Scores of people were injured and police did

thought would be a peaceful dialogue had

Alive in memories: G. Krishna Moorthy

not allow us to take them to the hospital.

was killed in the police firing 2010 July

Sub Inspector ashok Kumar who was re-

the east Coast energy Pvt. Ltd back in

lessly to me and said, since your husband is

lives. We are ready to sacrifice our lives, but

turned violent leading to the bloodshed of

2008. The construction has already de-

in jail, I’m ready to take you as my wife.

we will not have the power plant. The teach-

innocent people.

stroyed the extremely fragile ecology, thus

When I resisted they abused me,” cried

ers of the local school has been beaten up,

Gunna Joga rao(35) and Gonapa

promoted as Circle Inspector. That

affecting the livelihood of the community.

Gangamma.

sponsible for the bloodshed was

hence, our children are unable to go to

Krishna Moorthy(68)were killed in

is how they rewarded for killing the

ananta Sayisri,one of the women we came

every household has a story to tell- a tale

school now. We are ready to die, but it’s a

the unexpected police firing.

hapless people, said brother of de-

across lost her house in the police firing on

of losing a beloved, not to lose the land

big no to the plant,” said nagulu Saitamma

Feb 25,2010. Her eldest son Harikrishna and

where they have born. Children stared at us-

with a determination on her face.

tural laborer of Palasapuram and was

The family of the Gonapa

her husband were arrested during the

the deserted looks in those eyes was disturb-

Sompeta was a decision been made by the

the sole bread earner of his family.

Krishna Moorthy also received five

protest, and her younger son has been miss-

ing- silence which could speak. Women who

people, not just for the people, but also for

He didn’t have any lands and was

lakh under compensation and hopes

ing since. Gangamma, her daughter -in -law

gathered at the community temple asked us

their farmlands, and to maintain the wealth

dependent on the landlords for work.

to get the job offered by govern-

and two kids were the only one left.

what we would do when we got back to Hy-

of nature for the generations to come. On the

The government has given rs. five

ment.

derabad. The question left me baffled and

other hand, Vadditandra, resembled a war

lakh as compensation and promised

dumbstruck.

zone - a war between stones and bullets - a

a job.

“They [police] threw bombs and we ran in panic when smoke engulfed our houses.

Gunna Joga rao was an agricul-

ceased Krishna Moorthy.

People here are directly or indirectly dependent on the beela (wet-

When we came back, I learnt we lost what

“Goons [hired by the firm] and the police

we earned in our lifetime [crying pointing

raided the village and wrecked it. they paid

an end to this construction, the people here

rao, said “we lost our father in the

towards the burnt house]. Tell us what to do?

no heed to our voices.150 people were taken

expect nothing else from the government.

agitation we never thought that

“Our environment, fields every-

Where will we sleep?” asked ananta in de-

away in trucks brutally, including my hus-

There was no choice for these women ex-

something like this would happen.

thing will be lost. We don’t want our

spair.

band. It has been nine days since he was

cept to fight, because they do not want to

nothing can fill the vacuum created

beela to turned into the ash filed

G.Sravanthi, daughter of Joga

“Goons of the company with the support

taken. They took an old woman on their

beg at the streets of the big cities. It was a

by the sad demise of my father. What

of police broke the doors of our home and

shoulders, without any mercy. The police

call to live and die in dignity-right to live,

we just now want is the cancellation

asked me to go with them. He came shame-

and goons are responsible for our wrecked

to protect land and water.

of Government order”

lands) over the local economy sustains.

Abhijit Mech

continuum to Sompeta.

26

like what happened at Paravada. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for our land.”

27 Vantage 2011

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RESISTANCE

Personality Profile

‘I will be the one to take the first bullet’

warning opened firing. The firing killed one of the villagers and injured many. The NCC brought rowdies and we including women, children and old people were beaten up mercilessly .”

“The Kakarapally village, where the police firing took place against the people who are fighting against the thermal plant, is economically poorer than us. We collected 50 bags of rice, vegetables and clothes and gave it to the Kakarapally villagers. We feel that we need to back up the struggle in Kakarapally as well,” he added extending his support to the villagers.

“We are happy the way we are and share a strong bond with nature. If anyone come and build a project, we will go and fight against them. We don’t need any development. We are ready to sacrifice our lives to stop the project.

We don’t want our future generation to live with polluted air and water” he said.

Though the construction has been stopped for now there is no Government Order to stop the project and the struggle of the villagers still continues.

Sree Rama Murthy, the village sarpanch shares his experiences of the agitation

T

he proposed thermal power plant in the wetlands of Sompeta and the surrounding villages has witnessed a popular uprising agianst it. The agitation, that took place against the state’s undemocratic act of taking the possession of the lands of the people, took two lives of the people. One of the victims is from the village Akasalakkavaram.

The people of Akasalakkavaram actively participated in the agitation against the police and the Nagarjuna Construction Company that was taken over the project to build the plant. These people were led by the

“The collector conducted a public meeting and misrepresented the public opinion as 50 percent when 85 percent of the villagers opposed the project”

village sarpanch, Mr. Sree Rama Murthy Naidu, a 75-year-old man from the village.

Remembering the motivation given by Naidu, one of the villager quotes him that said: “This is our land. We will not let anybody enter here. I will be the one to take the first bullet in resisting them.”

Naidu led the agitation from the village by making people aware of the adverse effects of the thermal power plant. He was recognized for his struggle and was invited to Bombay by the social activist, Medha Patkar, where she conducted a meeting about the thermal power plants that were proposed against the people’s wish.

Naidu on the proposed thermal power plant said: “The power plant which was proposed is one kilo meter from here. The plant would use our farming lands to set up ash ponds. The air which carries ash and pollutants will flow on to our village. It damages our plants and fields. It pollutes our drinking water as well. So we have decided to oppose the plant.”

Having become aware the adverse effects of the thermal power plants from an Agriculture student from Palasapuram who brought some videos which showed adverse effects of thermal power plants, Naidu booked an auditorium in the village with his own money and screened the videos. Then he along with some of the villagers, doctors and village heads from Sompeta visited the National Thermal Power Corporation in

Paravada village and spoke to the people about their problems caused from the plant.

Then he took the people to the construction site to stop the work.

“When we first started our agitation against the power plant, only 15 of us went to the site to stop the construction. When we reached there, 30 policemen were placed to guard the area. Next time when 50 of us went 80 policemen were placed. When I questioned them why they were guarding a nongovernmental project, they fell silent and left” said Naidu. He added that, “The NCC people brought hired rowdies from the Hyderabad nearby places and placed at the construction site. They also brought dogs and scared us with them.”

He blamed the officials for misrepresenting the facts which led to the sanction of the permission for the power plant. He said that they didn’t carry the public opinion. Naidu openly criticized the Collector of Srikakulam, Mr. Srikanth saying: “The collector conducted a public meeting and misrepresented the public opinion as 50 percent of us supported while 85 percent of the villagers opposed the project”. He also said that most of the officials and some of the villagers took money to hide these facts about the wet lands.

“The officials didn’t do any survey about these wet lands. They simply presented these wet lands as waste lands,” he added.

Explaining the incident where one of his sons was given money along with some of the villagers to support the power plant project, he said: “I consider it as one of the shameful act in my life. My elder son was approached by the mediators from Nagarjuna Construction Company for help. As soon as I got to know about it I took the money from my son. I told him to bring the remaining money that was with mediators. I got a whole of ten lakh rupees.

I formulated a committee and used the money for the developmental works of the village and also to strengthen the protest against the project.” He admitted that he had used some of the money for his own personal use.

Recalling the agitation that took place on 14th July, 2010 he said: “We were unarmed and protesting peacefully. The police without any

Rahul V Pishorody

Rahul V Pishorody

A 75-year-old sarpanch from Akasalakkavaram village who led the agitation against the proposed thermal power plant shares his experience with Shiva Krishna Gundra.

One of the villagers showing his leg hit by a bullet

29

28 VANTAGE 2011

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Resistance

Satyagraha

A relentless satyagraha The relay agitation against the NCC project has crossed 475 days C Jamsheel sompeta

“If you ask what our political affiliation is, we would like to say that we belong to ‘antithermal power plant party’ workers.”

T

Midhun Raj U.

hese words that came from madini Raghavulu, the vice president of pariyavarana parirakshana samithi are enough to understand the protest of people of sompeta against NCC (Nagarjuna Construction Company). “this fight is not against government, but it is for our freedom. We are not ready to forfeit our right to breathe fresh air, to drink pure water and to live in untainted soil”, madini continued. the proposed NCC thermal power plant at sompeta of srikakulam district could not even get off the ground because of the people’s agitation. the one and half year agita-

tion is being termed a ‘satyagraha’ initially called the pariyavarana parirakshana sangam, the movement was registered as pariyavarana parirakshana samithi in 2008. “the authorities have been saying that the ignorant inhabitants are dissenting against the thermal power plant for nothing. We are not against any developmental activities, but we are not ready to give up our peaceful life for anything. We are really happy to be called as anti-development buddies, if you call this development” while sharing their grievance to Vantage the eyes of Beena Delhi Rao, the General secretary of the satyagaraha movement turned moist..

Why the responsible department is propagating lies among the public is that it wants to create a favorable atmosphere. they are arguing that the bela (in local parlance, the wetlands are known as bela)) is not wet land and it is waste land. How will the characteristics of a land change overnight? the government officials certified that the land is

Satyagraha leaders talking with Vantage reporters

30 VANTAGE 2011

not bela, and hence it was all for NCC. “this should not be tolerated”, says, raising his jist. “a police firing took place at sompeta against the protestors on July 14, 2010. two people lost their life in the firing that took place while the populace gathered in a paddy field to protest against the thermal power plant. two people lost their lives in that police brutality”, says eas sharma, president of the satyagraha movement.

“We are not accepting any financial assistance from outside. since we are getting good support from the public we can carry forward our agitation smoothly. We, the leaders of satyagraha, don’t belong to a particular political party. We are the victims of development” said t Rama Rao, the vice

“The Govt. must trust the people, at least they should show the patience to listen the voice of the common masses”

president of the people’s movement.

It is a completely mass based protest. they have a monthly time table for the relay agitation to make sure that there will not be any break in the agitation. Based on this table they will allocate the dates for each protester. most of the court proceedings are handled mainly by eas sharma with the help of some good advocates to assist him. “the Government must trust the people of sompeta. at least they should show the patience to listen to the voice of the common masses. We too have something to say.

We don’t want to be like the NtpC (National thermal power plant Corporation) victims. It is better to raise our voice before we get into the trap”, Rama Rao pointed out. this is not the first such agitation in India. the number of protestors is increasing day by day. the sompeta protesters also want the world to hear their grievances. they realized the socio-environmental impact of thermal power plants that even before the plant came into reality. as the Nobel prize winner amartya sen said ‘Development is Freedom’.

Pg 31, 32 paravada problems:Layout 1 4/6/2011 3:29 PM Page 1

RESISTANCE

Issues with NTPC

More salt in their wounds

Ash: the major pollutant

of Visakhapatnam district; about 10-15 villages are affected because of the project. the ashes which are dumped in the open cultivable fields had become the major pollutant of the available natural resources here. the air, the water table, water ponds, the soil, the health of the villagers everything has been affected because of the project. skin allergies and respiratory problems. most of the villagers in these project affected areas are developing skin allergies and other respiratory problems. prasad Rao, one of the villagers said “now a day’s people are developing lot of skin allergies because of the ash, before that we didn’t have any ailments. Especially in summer it is getting worse we are getting skin boils and burns”. “they conduct medical camps every now and then, and distribute the same medicines for all the diseases. Even after using medicines the problems are not solved”, added mr. Rao.

the simhadri power project by the ntpC has deceived people in many ways. What the people thought of once as development has now became their ultimate enemy. the project took the green cultivable lands and left them with ashes. the soil, water, air everything is polluted now. the ntpC project is in paravada mandal

Because of the power plant most of the villagers who once were landlords have now became landless agricultural laborers. “We sold all our lands to ntpC thinking that they would provide some employment to our people. they actually promised to give the jobs. Later they denied jobs for most of

The people of Paravada, where the STPP was constructed, are suffering with the health problems caused because of the power plant Rajitha Godasu & Shiva Krishna Gundra Visakhapatnam

A

few years ago, V. sheshu was an owner of salt fields. he had his own lands that he used for the salt cultivation. But now after the establishment of the simhadri power plant, he is no more the owner of his fields. he sold them to national thermal power Corporation (ntpC) for small amount of money and now he can’t even work as his health is deteriorating by the pollution created by the

ashes of power plant. this is not the story of only one person but it is the story of many who lost their lands and environment to ntpC.

We lost our livelihood

Midhun Raj U.

Villagers of Pittavanipalem discussing their problems with the Vantage team

31 VANTAGE 2011

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RESISTANCE

Midhun Raj U.

Issues with NTPC

Many residents like the woman in the picture, suffer from skin allergies us and those were given they are low grade jobs like sweepers and cleaners”, said sreenivas from pittavanipalem.

They conduct medical camps every now and then, and distribute the same medicines for all the diseases. Even after using medicines the problems are not solved.

“it’s not only the landlords who lost even the agricultural laborers were also affected. i once used to work in the salt fields now there are no salt fields, i searched for jobs in Vishakhapatnam but i couldn’t get. and how can i expect job when i have not even passed the tenth”, said another villager.

Worried about future generations the people of the village are very much concerned about the future of the next generation. the young generation of the society should be provided a good environment and healthy conditions to grow to be fit for the society. instead, they are living in an environment which has been polluted and damaged. “since the beginning, we knew there would be some problems but we didn’t expect them to be of this high magnitude. they promised so many things but they never bothered to fulfill them. they told they would provide clean drinking water daily, but we get the tanker water once in three days and that too is not sufficient for the whole village”, said pitta paidamma.

“For other activities we are using the groundwater which is affected with the ash, the ash deposits everywhere, on our huts, inside the huts, on the utensils, on the washed clothes, on the plants everywhere. as a result those few who are still practicing agriculture have stopped as their crops are also affected with ash. now they are also ready to sell their lands”. said another villager B.Lakshmamma.

“We are now worried about our future

32 VANTAGE 2011

generations there are no lands here, no pure drinking water, no air and no good resources for them. We don’t know with what ailments and diseases they are going to born”, she added further. in the name of development they lost everything and left with nothing but ashes.

Highlights People lost their lands and their livelihood.

Most of them are developing skin alleries and respiratory problems because of ash.

Jobs were denied to majority of villagers by the NTPC. Those who were given are low grade jobs.

All the natural resources, the air, water and land ispolluted by ash.

People are wooried about the future generations.

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RESISTANCE

Consequences

Bullets do the talking

Gangadhar

Human rights violation was rampant in these villages.

Law of the l(h)and? Police round up a villager during a protest in Kakarapalli

Mohammed Anvar hyderabad

D

evelopmental activities in India are somehow attracting the attention of public. Many protests are going on against mega projects in India and the momentum built up after the protests makes news. The news value of such protests increases when police confront the agitations. after some time the headlines fade and interest dissolves. but the suffering continues in the affected communities.

“Since there was no provocation whatsoever for firing, the killing of the 2 persons and injuries to the others is a violation of their fundamental rights.�

The recent police firing at Naupada swamps and Sompetta of Srikakulam claimed four lives apart from injuring many. In both villages, people were agitating against the setting up of thermal power plants.

There are allegations that various laws have been breached while government acquire land for mega projects. apart from that, in many case people’s rights are also being violated. The proposed area includes land on which local farmers depend for their livelihoods, and to which they have rights under Indian law. On February 28, around 2,000-odd local villagers were protesting against the east Coast energy Private Ltd (eCePL) thermal power plant.

Close to 2,500 police personnel were deployed to disperse the protesters, resulting in the violence. Police had used rubber bullets and smoke bombs against the protestors comprising fisherfolk and farmers.

33 VANTAGE 2011

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Consequences

according to fact finding committee re-

confined people to their homes, and set fire

a hospital run by a well-known local environ-

port of Lok Satta Party, the State depart-

to houses. It finally led to the police firing.

mentalist, beating him up as well as villagers

ments of Forests and Fisheries had objected

although the police claimed to have used

being treated at the hospital.

to east Coast energy’s thermal power proj-

rubber bullets, post-mortem reports sug-

ect in 2007 itself, as it would harm the en-

gested the use of regular bullets.

enquiry by a Fact Finding Team headed

by Justice P.K. Misra, former judge of the

vironment. Two expert committees, which

On 13th July, the boundary wall of the

Orissa high Court, into the police firing and

visited the site in July 2010 following an

thermal plant was to be constructed, people

violence at Sompeta says in their findings

agitation, also confirmed the environmen-

of 24 affected villages gathered to protest.

that there was no need for mobilization of

tal hazards of the project. The mandal rev-

The police and alleged goons of the firm

such a disproportionately large police force,

Midhun Raj U.

enue officer termed the land as

more than 2000 personnel, on 14

poramboku and unfit for agri-

July. Since there was no provoca-

culture or any other remunera-

tion whatsoever for firing, the

tive activity, concealing the

killing of the 2 persons and in-

fact that fisher people had

juries to the others, including mul-

been earning their livelihood

tiple fractures to several women,

by fishing in the wetland.

is a violation of their fundamental

The committee underlined

rights guaranteed under article 21

the fact that east Coast energy

of the Constitution of India.

went ahead with construction

adopting liberal interpretation

although it is yet to get Coastal

, Supreme Court (SC) of India has

regulatory Zone clearance, a

read several rights in article 21 to

case was pending in the Na-

make ‘life’ more meaningful and

tional environmental appel-

worthliving. right to livelihood,

late authority, and it is yet to

decent environment, good health,

fulfill the conditions stipulated

food, water, social justice and

by the Union Ministry of en-

economic empowerment come

vironment and Forests in its

under this interpretation. People

tentative permission.

fear that while setting up these

The committee pointed out

proposed power plants, these

that nearly 30,000 acres of fer-

rights will be violated.

tile land in the area would be

Quashing acquisition of land by

vulnerable to inundation if the

Uttar Pradesh government to set up

wetland, now serving as an out-

a jail, the Court said that though the

let to heavy rainfall in the area,

right to property is not a fundamen-

were to disappear in the name of the power project. It would also endanger the bird sanctuary at Telineelapuram, just 10 km

tal right, enjoyment of most other

Scar of a protest: A villager showing the scar caused by bullet injury during the confrontation with police at Palasapuram

away from the project site.

rights were closely related to property rights and it has to be accepted that without right to some property, other rights become illusory. SC’s

The report found the police guilty of a

chased and rained baton blows and eventu-

recent verdict on Common property land

number of unwarranted actions. They

ally bullets on the protestors who offered a

says that large parts of Common property

clamped prohibitory orders under Section

resistance. Later in the day, the police contin-

land has been grabbed by unscrupulous per-

144 on February 24 itself, dismantled the

ued their terror spree, raiding villages and

sons using muscle power or political clout

camp of the protesters, resorted to arrests,

thrashing villagers. The police even attacked

and in many states there is not an inch of

Gangadhar

RESISTANCE

Dreams burnt down: Many houses were set ablaze and many injured including women and elderly in the violence.

Police used smoke bombs to disperse the mob. such land left for the common use of the people of village,though it may exist on paper.

This encroachment upon common land was done with active connivance of the state authorities. SC in the same judgement also directed all state governments that they should prepare schemes for eviction of illegal/unauthorised occupants of the common land for the common use of village.

Various departments of both central and state governments appear to be dancing to the tune of private companies to go ahead with the proposals without heed to possible human rights violations. “The authorities must carry out a comprehensive human rights and environmental impact assessment of the project, in consultation with residents, and ensure that no work begins on the project until the residents’ rights are protected.” opines ramesh Gopalakrishnan, amnesty International’s India researcher.

It is the duty of the State to respect the right to life and property of its citizens and also to protect them from torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment. These rights are provided in the Indian Constitution and international human rights conventions and standards as well. It also includes the international treaties binding on India, and in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights (ICCPr), ratified

by India in 1979. recent news reports suggest that the government is continuing same approach towards people’s agitations.The police go ahead with arresting old- aged and women saying that they were part of the agitation.

Then how can world’s democracy protect its Constitutional promises to its citizens? People who are engaged in the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of assembly and speech should be able to do so without fear

34

of violence or harassment. The violence of the state should be treated equal to other crimes. Perhaps then people of Naupada and Sompetta can hope for justice.

Highlights Supreme court rules “Though the right to property is not a fundamental right, enjoyment of most other rights were closely related to property rights and it has to be accepted that without right to some property, other rights become illusory” “State governments should prepare schemes for eviction of illegal/unauthorised occupants of the common land for the common use of village.”

35 VANTAGE 2011

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Mining

Midhun Raj U. ArAku VAlley “Samudravasane devi, parvatasthana mandhite, vishnupatni namastubhyam, padasparsham kshamasvame”.

(O goddess earth, the consort of Vishnu, you whose garments are the oceans and whose breasts are the hills and mountain ranges; please forgive me as I walk on you this day.)

T

his Sanskrit Sloka reminds us how much our ancestors revered earth’s resources and made prudent use of them. Today, ironically, most of our attempts at development endanger both the environment and the people in a hazardous manner.

The years. These minerals lie under the same land which h hold most of India’s biologically diverse forests and water systems. Added to this, the people who live here make their means of sustenance from this land and its resources. The people, a large majority of whom are tribals, have lived in this symbiotic bond for centuries.

Since minerals are essential for our nation’s better tomorrow, they must be extracted. This means the land, its resources and its people must make way for the miners. But, can we compensate these immense losses with the development that mining promises and the government sings? Studies show that most of the min-

Highlights Facts about Bauxite Orissa is the largest Bauxite producing state in India.

AP has the second largest Bauxite deposits in the country.

It is estimated to have 613 million tonnes of reserve Bauxite.

Bauxite mining: Aruku’s greenery under threat The beautiful hills of the Araku Valley, rich in bauxite, face the threat of mining. ing areas in our country are still reeling under poverty and deprivation.

With the mining activities and indigenous groups struggle against it, mining has became a controversial matter in this last decade. Protests against mining giants like Vedanta ltd, JINDAl South West Steel ltd, POSCO and Steel Authority of India (SAIl) etc. in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh gained attention.

The total resources of bauxite in the country are placed at 2926 MT (million tonne) of reserves. The principle state with bauxite resrve include Orissa, which alone accounts for 51 percent of the total reserves.Andhra Pradesh seconds in bauxite resreves followed bu uttar Prdesh and Gjarat. Andhra Pradesh has 21% of the bauxite deTo be guillotined? : A bauxite rich hill proposed to be brought down for mining. posit in the country. Bauxite is the most common among aluminium ores. had identified huge deposit of bauxite and steam ahead with the plans to begin mining Bauxite is mined in tropical regions and setting up first mega fast track aluminium the huge bauxite reserves in the agency is formed through the leaching of soluble project in Vishakhapatnam invited massive area. minerals. So it is not surprising that mines protest. According to the government estiDevelopment so far are generally situated in the areas of high mates, there are 1,000 million tonnes of Ministry of Mines had approved applirainfall (average 1487 mm per year). The bauxite reserves in the 24 hills spread over cations for bauxite mining in Visakhapatlate y.S. rajasekhara reddy led Con- an extent of 384 kms from Anatagiri in nam in ten cases - seven to the AP Mining gress government’s decision to dig-up the Visakhapatnam district to Gurtedu in east Development Corporation and three to whole of eastern Ghats’ hills in Andhra Godavari. After y.S.r, both rosiah and NAlCO. Jindal South West Holdings ltd. region and surrounding places where they kiran kumar governments have gone full and ras al-khaimah (Anrak Aluminium

Midhun Raj U.

RESISTANCE

ltd.) have signed agreements with the State Government for setting up aluminium complexes in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts. Public sector Nalco, which got three of the 10 mining blocks, is also planning to set up an alumina refinery, smelter and co-generation plant near Visakhapatnam. Jindal and Anrak have already acquired lands for their alumina refineries. APMDC will supply the ore to an alumina smelter to be set up by the Jindal group at a total capital outlay of rs 9,000 crore.

However, the project turned a non-starter following a hue and cry over the alleged violation of the regulation 1 of 70, of the Andhra Tribal land Transfer (Prevention) Act and the fears over the threat posed to the Girijan lifestyle and the eco-system of the eastern Ghats.

Araku: Greenery will soon be a dream Araku, a lush green valley, known as the ‘Ooty’ of Andhra Pradesh is one of the state’s most sought after tourist destinations. For centuries, various tribal groups have lived here peacefully, collecting resources from forests and hills.

Small creeks together form rivers which carry fresh water from the valley and flows down to the plane where acres of farmland to be irrigated.

recently, APMDC found massive deposits of bauxite in this region including Araku, Galikonda and Jerrella. According to the officials, Araku has 60 million tonnes of bauxite deposit.

Beespuram, located amidst the forests in the Anantagiri mandal of the district, is a tiny tribal hamlet with 63 families facing an uncertain future. “At any cost, we will defend the project because these hills are our livelihood,” said Mohan Chandra, resident of Beespuram. He said that the government and Jindal Company are using several tactics to keep the youth of this village silent.

“APMDC took the villagers from here to kadappa district to give training in mining.

They took around 200 people from this area for six months. They are getting stipend from Jindal company every month. Since people are getting money from the company, they are keeping silent,” he added.

Narasinga rao, who lives beneath the ‘Galikonda’ hill, one of the proposed mining sites, expressed his worries. He said his family has been living here for years depending on this forest. “If they started to dig-up this hill, our water streams would dry up. These hills are our lifeline. We depend on them for everything and living by collecting fuel-wood, neem, karakaya, amla and adda leaves. How can we think of losing all this?" he asked.

Araku MP V. kishore Chandra Deo told the media that the decision to upset the delicate social and ecological balances in Araku went against the grain of Congress's policies seeking a better deal for the disadvantaged.

Oasis of development. Disaster of

Araku, a lush green valley, known as the ‘Ooty’ of Andhra Pradesh is one of the s t ate’s mos t sought af ter touris t des tinations.

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RESISTANCE

Mining

A majority of the tribal people affected by the mining will lose their livelihoods despite promises by the state government.

Most tribal people have little or no education so are unlikely to get jobs in the highly mechanised bauxite mining units. A recent study by CeSS (Centre for environment and Social Science) indicates that the mining units would require the minimal human labour. Pointing out the examples of other mining sites across India, CeSS argues that all these areas are still under deprivation and those who were displaced were not given adequate compensation.Challenging the government’s claim that the living standards of the people in the periphery would change with more employment, better access to education, healthcare and other infrastructure, people who fight against the project said that it would destroy the sources of three rivers which originate from this region – rivers Gosthani, Champavati and Sharda- which are the main sources of drinking water and irrigation for Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram. Studies show that mining would affect the water table, catchments, reservoirs, forest cover, fauna and lead to many social problems.

Midhun Raj U.

environment.

A villager points to the bauxite rich hill.

Temporary halt The Centre has halted plans for bauxite mining in picturesque Araku region after ordering a comprehensive re-evaluation of the projects environmental and human costs. This decision came in the wake of people’s protest and Araku MP’s letter to Jairam ramesh, unionMinister for environment and Forests, describing the disastrous consequence of the project. The Minister will take a close look at the proposal to carry out bauxite mining in the eastern Ghats, assessing the possible impact on the environment.

Naxalites had raised thier voice against bauxite mining in many of the reserve areas in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Politicians along with mining companies are under Maoist threat.

However, if previous experience is anything to go by, ‘development’ always wins over environmental concerns.

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Conservation

Shiva Krishna Gundra

Hatcheries for Ridleys VSPCA is in for conserving the endangered species

T

he serene and beautiful beaches of srikakulam and Vizag are a domicile for the sea turtles. these seashores have been in news for a grass roots level effort to protect the highly endangered Olive Ridley turtles. identified by the international Union for Conservation of nature and natural Resources, this species of sea turtle is listed ‘endangered’. in india, this species have their breeding grounds mostly on the coasts of Orissa and andhra pradesh. the Visakha society for protection and Care of animals (VspCa) in association with the Forest Department and tree Foundation, Chennai launched the hatchery system in January 2011. they have so far identified more than 110 nests in a 40 km stretch from naval Coastal Battery (nCB) to Bhimli and some parts of srikakulam.

Efforts are on to protect this globally threatened species along the Vizag and srikakulam beaches that are sporadic nesting spots of the turtles. areas on Rama krishna (Rk) beach are earmarked as nesting spots and hatcheries are built to protect and pro-

Save turtles: Hatcheries in RK Beach of Vizag to protect turtle eggs. mote the nesting habits of the sea turtle. “as R.k. beach in Vizag is a tourist spot every one coming there are not aware of the nested eggs and end up stamping on them. hence we start looking after them from early morning,” says E.narayan Rao, Co-ordinator for VspCa. “One nest bears 85 to 150 eggs. these turtles lay eggs just two feet inside the sand. stray dogs and other animals might eat and destroy them. so the members start early in the morning from four and collect them (eggs of olive ridley) till seven thirty,” adds narayan Rao. the collected eggs are then placed by digging the sand with the same depth and manner that the turtles laid. this place is then covered with bags, and is surrounded by bamboo cages. the appointed members keep a strict vigil to protect the hatcheries especially during the night. the hatched eggs are left on the seashore from where they enter the sea. the success rate of these hatcheries is said to be 90 per cent, making it an effective method in conservation of the Olive Ridley turtles.

Vantage 2011

About the turtle...

Courtesy:Google

­ hruthi­B.­Shetty S Visakhapatnam

Olive Ridley Turtle Generally found in coastal bays and estuaries, Olive Ridleys are measure 2-2.5 feet when fully grown and weigh between 77 and 100 pounds. They inhabit tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

“These sea turtles nest twice each season. The eggs require an average of 52 to 58 day incubation period which is a critical period. Direct harvest of adults and eggs, incidental capture in commercial fisheries and loss of nesting habitat are the main threats to this species. The survival rate of young turtles is as low as 0.1 per cent and is classified ‘vulnerable’ according to IUCN,” explains E. Narayan Rao.

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Travelogue

An escape into the heart of Eastern Ghats

A train ride through the dark tunnels... A visit to a coffee drinkers' paradise...

A walk through the gigantic caves...All in a short trip to the Araku Valley!

Midhun Raj U.

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Amanda Tariang ArAku vAlley

he Vantage team rose early morning of 6 March to board the 7:00 am train from visakhapatnam to Araku. We rubbed the sleep out of our eyes, watched the violet dawn slowly gather its pristine orange tint and headed to the railway station. In the midst of the hustle bustle of the train Shri kumar, an 11 year old boy from raipur, sporting a painted moustache, rosy coloured cheeks and blonde coloured hair rhythmically stroked his self-made drum and entertained the passengers with his Bollywood numbers. His jolly spirit sent a rush of excitement through us all, marking a delightful start to our day and trip.

Outside the racing train, the golden sun peeped in through the hills casting a silhouette of the gigantic mountains. As the shadows withdrew from the hills, the landscape was painted with brilliance of the sun revealing the trees in their varying shades of green, brown and orange.

The four hour journey to Araku was an experience in itself. every time the train passed through one of the 46 tunnels that cut through the hills, the passengers animatedly whistled and exclaimed with joy. Within these tunnels the rumble of the train grew louder than ever.

At Araku we were guests to the tranquillity, grandeur and earthy fragrances of nature. As we walked towards the hotel, a group of colourfully attired tribal women with head-load of vegetables and grains walked past us.

The tribal dance form of Araku, Dhimsa, was truly an escape from the regular glitzy music videos that we all grown up watching.

The women in differently-draped sarees were adorned with thickset ornaments danced in a closely knit long line to the rhythmic beat of drums and trumpet locally known as thudduma, dappu, kiridi, baka, kommulli. At the end of the dance the women spectators were invited to join the dancers.

We then went on to the tribal museum showcasing the traditional living methods of native tribes. The museum is aimed to focus and preserve the important traits of original culture, tradition, handicrafts and fine arts of the ancient tribes.

Facing the museum is the Araku valley coffee house. It is a oneof-its-kind thematic art gallery in Andhra Pradesh. The chocolate brown walls with white murals of the house lure the coffee lovers. As we stepped in, the aroma of coffee filled our lungs. An assortment of coffee based drinks, accessories, chocolates and coffee filters were on sale. The coffee house also promotes handicrafts made by the local tribes.

On our way back to the hotel we encountered a tribal wedding in a small village called Chompi; and fortunately we were right on time for the ceremony. It was heartening to experience these unique customs amidst the welcoming people. local drums and trumpets played rhythmically in the background. It was a novel experience for us, a moment to cherish.

Next morning as we drove back to vizag, the coffee and pepper plantation on the either side of the road left us in awe. It was like driving through a virgin land. The peace that prevailed here made it possible to hear the rustle of the leaves swaying in the light breeze.

We then reached Galikonda view Point- the highest point of visakhapatnam district. One can witness the splendid view of hills and plateaus covered with velvet green carpet around the view point.

The view of the train crawling like a steaming serpent through these hills demonstrated their colossal proportions. later, on our way to the magnificent Borra caves, we encountered vendors all along the ghat road selling Araku’s fresh coffee power, wild honey, shikakai, turmeric, and pepper.

Tribal people, abound with their own folklore and traditions, enhance the beauty of this valley. In spite of the winds of change sweeping across, the tribals of Araku still retain their traditions and folklore that date back to centuries. They seem to live a happy life quite like their ancestors did, miles away from the buzzing metropolitans.

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Travelogue

Borra Caves: A Natural Wonder

Bipin Sebastian

and lead to the formation of the calcium structures. The caves ex-

ANANTHAGIrI HIllS

tend into the ground to such a depth that the river can be heard

Rahul V Pisharody

Midhun Raj U.

Midhun Raj U.

This place is one of its kind and occupies the pride of place in a tourist map. Nature will force you to respect her, once and forever.

flowing above from inside the caves. ferent forms. The most popular of all the formations looks like

eastern Ghats. It is about 30 kms from Araku valley and

the shivling. This has made the caves a famous pilgrimage site.

90 kms from visakhapatnam city. The caves, among the

every year thousands of tribals who reside in the nearby hills

largest in the country, are at an elevation of about 705 metres

come here to offer prayers on Shivaratri. Many people from all

above sea level. They were discovered by William king George,

over the world has also started coming in recent times. There are

a British geologist, in the year 1807. The major attraction in the

also formations that resemble Shiva- Parvati, jumping lion,

caves is the several stalactites and stalagmites that line the inte-

human face, brain, mother and child, crocodile, tiger etc.

Midhun Raj U.

riors.

The massive caves attract large number of tourists fromevery

Stalactites are the spear like structure hanging from the roof

part of the world. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development

and stalagmites are the mounds on the ground. Both are formed

Corporation has made the caves accessible by way of several stair

from calcium bicarbonate and other mineral deposits as a result

cases to help the visitors to walk through the rocky interior. “This

of the flow of water for millions of years. The Gosthani river that

is awe inspiring. Man stands too small in front of nature,” said

provides water to visakhapatnam city originates from these hills.

Naveen, a nature enthusiast from Hyderabad.

There are several streams of the river that pass through the caves

Midhun Raj U.

T

The stalactite and stalagmite formations at places assume difhe Borra caves are located on the Ananthagiri Hills of the

Overall the cave is a pantheist’s heaven.

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Tribal Archives

Journey into tribal lives Araku’s tribal museum reflects the rich culture and tradition of tribals Rajitha Godasu ArAku

I

Courtesy Google

f we have our umbrellas they have their own sannuru; if we have mixer-grinder or food processor they have their own jattanga; if we have water bottles they have their own Dunga .You name it they have it, by now you must wondering what I am talking about. I am talking about the tribes, and the variety of implements they use.

Though globalisation had touched and changed the lifestyles of many tribals, some of their age old customes and traditions still remain. The tribal museum at araku gives us an insight into the lives of these people.

Iniative of Indian Tribal Development Authority (ITDA) The tribal museum was set up by the IDTA in the year 1996. The collection of material reflects the rich culture of various tribes of the region. Most of the matreials have been collected from the tribal communities of Vishakapatnam, Vizayanagaram, Srikakulam and East godavari. The museum has a good collection of various equipment like the hunting, musical, agricultural equipment etc used by them. k.Anand kumar, an employee here told all the materials are collected from the tribals. There some tools which they are not using anymore, like the hunting equipment.

Most of the tribes stopped going for hunting, now they are mainly into agriculture. So one can see the hunting equipments which are designed and used by them.

Tribal jewelry importance

gaining

fashion

Jewelry is an important aspect of tribal culture. They have different jewelry for different occasions and sometimes the jewelry differentiates one community of tribe from other. Museum holds a good collection of tribal jewelry. Most of the jewelry is made up of wooden beads, seeds, and different coloured threads.

Adlia is an important ornament worn by females in most of the tribes. It is a necklace

Tribal museum at Araku made of currency coins and black beads.

Whenever there is birth of a female child in the family a coin is added to the chain and this is worn by the wife of the elder son in the family. This basically gives the number of female births in a family. “it is amazing to see how these people used wood, seeds and currency coins. I can never think of gold and silver whenever I think of jewelry”, said P.Haritha reddy from Hyderabad.

Arts and crafts The museum gives the information of various tribal dances and their other arts. Some of the dances like the Dhimsa dance, peacock dance, tholu bommalata ( puppet show) are well represented in the form of

Everytime a female child is born in the family, a coin is added to the chain and is worn by the wife of the elder son

44 Vantage 2011

statues. “I don’t know they are so many different art forms among these tribals. It seems that every caste has their own dance and it is a very valuable information for a student like me”,said Mr. Vinay kumar.

Apart from the traditional dances, traditional paintings are also showcased in the museum. The Iddesung painting on the walls of the museum attracts the eyeballs of the visitors. This is a diiferent kind of painting basically practised by the tribes called konda Savaras living in Srikakulam and ViJaya nagaram. They draw the desighns depicting their socio-economic activities on the walls of their homes and offer prayers to them. They believe that their ancestral spirits would avert the diseases in crops and promote good harvest.

“There are so many equipment the tribals don’t use now. Like the agricultural equipments and cooking utensils. Sometimes tribals themselves visit the tribal museum to see all these things”, said Mr. Anand kumar.

There is also a store inside the museum where the tribal artifacts are sold. The entry for one person is rupees 10.

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Culture

Livelihood in jeopardy Amanda Tariang Shruthi B. Shetty Vadditandra

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additandra of Srikakulam district is one of the many villages of rural andhra Pradesh. it is a small village that is home to around 800 families, out of which 555 families are dependent on fishing for their livelihood. Over the years the fishermen have developed a strong attachment towards the sea. “the sea never harms us. it is our provider, it is our livelihood.” says t. Kodandrao, a fisherman and a social worker. a majority of the fishermen in this village are originally from Orissa. they are mostly bilingual and commonly communicate in Oriya or telegu. though these families are economically backward in terms of their lifestyles and material belongings, they seem to be self-sufficient. “We are satisfied and happy, we earn enough to live a satisfying life” says t. Kodandrao. Other than selling fish the women of this community also sell mats and other handicrafts made out of dry leaves and grass.

Culture of sharing One of the unique and noteworthy practices of the fishermen community is their ‘culture of sharing’. the Fishermen of this rural community are divided into five teams. three of these teams are classified as the “major” teams and remaining two are “minor” teams. Each of these teams has a leader or head elected by the team members. the head is the one who takes care of the team, organizes the fishing days, and looks after the swamps, among other things. the produce of this fishing community reaches markets as far as 50kms of its surrounding area and even into the

neigh-bouring state of Orissa.

‘Cultureof sharing’ is a practice where in the fishermen community of Vadditandra frequently harvest fish in three major coastal swamps located in the village. When the fish in these swamps are mature enough, the fishermen belonging to the different teams go to those swamps and catch them for a certain period of time. after the fish have been caught, they are handed over to the womenfolk of the community who go to auction the catch in various surrounding markets. Sometimes

Even a new born child, a widower, widow, an unmarried person and an elderly person gets their own share these women even go all the way to Orissa to sell the fish. all the money collected from the auction of fish is kept safe in a box, which is handed over to the head of their respective teams. the head then distributes the sale proceeds among the team members and their families, according to their share. the distribution of the money is based on the fixed shares pre-decided by the community. a new born child gets 25 paisa, an unmarried person gets 50 paisa, a widower and widow gets 75 paisa and a married couple gets 100 paisa. a percentage of the sale proceeds also go towards the maintenance of the fishing swamps. it is interesting to note that in this community even a new born child and an elderly person gets a share of the earnings. this ‘culture of sharing’ which is entrenched deeply in the culture of this partic-

Midhun Raj U.

Modern development threatens traditional ways

ular community, is not seen in any other village of andhra Pradesh.

Issues Modern economic and social development projects have brought with them various hazards threatening the livelihood of this community. now that this fishing community is aware of the adverse effects of the surrounding power plants releasing harmful chemicals to the natural water bodies, they are worried about their future. anantakamala, a woman of this community laments, “We have no land. Sea is what we depend on. We want a better future for our children too. We can’t afford any development project.”

“We know that it (power plants) harms. if our pregnant women start bleeding and have complications due to the effects of such development projects, we will have no future,” says t. Kodanda rao. it is disheartening to see their way of life slowly coming to a standstill as a consequence of the atrocious attacks in the guise of development by the people in the seat power. “Sea is food for all and education for our children. We have no occupation other than fishing. We don’t want money or land, we don’t want any project either” Seetamma, an elderly woman of this community grieves.

We can only hope that this unique culture which sustains and nurtures this community in an ecologically friendly and sustainable way continues to thrive in the future. it will be a great tragedy if this community should ever lose their livelihood and way of life due to greed in the guise of modern economic and social development.

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Tribal Culture

Arnima Rao ArAku

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estled 1000 metres above sea level in the lap of the gorgeously wooded Eastern Ghats, the enchanting Araku Valley is the home to at least a dozen tribes who, in spite of the winds of change sweeping across, still retain their centuries old traditions and folklore. They seem to lead a happy life like their ancestors did, miles away from modern day life. I re-

visited the valley recently and my brief trip left me spellbound.

Araku Valley is home to around 19 tribes.

Tribal communities, including the Bagat, Gadaba, Jatapa, Mali, Savara, and Valmiki are spread across the districts of Vishakhapatanam, Srikakulam and East Godavari. The tribal women are found in colorful attire as they perform the Dhimsa and Mayuri dances, especially during ‘Itika Pongal’ – the popular hunting festival in April. Some tribal art forms are Mayuri from the khond tribe; Be Ba Natya from Bagata tribe; Andelaravvali dance from Savara tribe.

The Dhimsa dance is performed by

almost all irrespective of their tribal community.

As part of my visit to the A.P. Tourism resort in Araku, a group of tribals performed a tribal dance. Lakshmi, who belongs from the Bagata tribe has been performing Dhimsa dance since 1999. She along with ten members and two drummers performed for the audience.They are paid a total amount of rs. 1,500 for daily 15 minutes.

Talking to her was rather easy as she spoke a mixture of Hindi and Oriya. She explained about the simplicity of their dances and their significance. They celebrate during harvest, hunting, marriages, and other seasons as well. The dance revolves around ten members, mainly women. Hands held at the back, the women dressed in coulouful saris tied in a different fashion, dance in a circular manner. They sing of prosperity and seek blessings from the almighty to bestow all with happiness.

As I noticed on the way into the interiors of the valley, gaily attired tribal women carrying loads of vegetables, grains and other farm produce were being sold in a market.

Life echoed as the inhabitants gathered to sell or barter their ware. In exchange they buy kerosene, cloth and imitation jewellery.

Apart from the usual buying and selling, the markets also serve as an occasion for prospective brides and grooms to meet.

Hence they come in all their traditional finery and colourful apparel. raku women have a great passion for traditional jewellery which usually consists of a pair of earnings, pendants, three nose rings, silver anklets, chains and bracelets. These are basically in silver and brass material. The most com-

A

monly worn daily are the nose rings called ‘murpka’; bead necklace called ‘pusuanga’; ear rings called ‘gunlinga’; and silver anklets.

They are also fond of modern beauty aids as evident from a number of wayside stalls selling a variety of synthetic plastic beads, colourful bangles and hair clips! But the most traditional ornament is the ‘adlia’. This is a necklace made up of small coins, and is added to each time a girl is born into the family. This type of necklace is now a rarity.

A stroll through the valley with acres and acres of coffee plantations, swaying eucalyptus and gurgling mountain streams sketches an image across your mind about the life of the tribals. Most of the tribal homes are oneroomed structures with a small verandah attached to the front. Walls are brightly painted and beautifully decorated with images of animals, gods and goddesses drawn in colours.

Some also live in bamboo huts with cow shelters attached to the house. The sight of technology, a satellite dish on a hut, actually left me surprised.

Walking through the narrow allies, I also came across the age old traditional equipment such as fishing baskets, grain bin, water pots, wooden spoons, rain hat and much more.

Children playing in the lanes seemed shy and knew the rules of not talking to strangers.

Life is a succession of festivals and fairs, song and dance for the people of this valley.

They celebrate everything from the onset of the monsoon to the simple toils of daily life.

During March-April, the people stop all their agricultural activities and undertake hunting expeditions to nearby forests using spears, bows and arrows. On their return the entire village celebrates through drinking and dancing.

The best time to visit the valley is during March-April when the silent night echoes to the sound of music and dance. But naturalists and anthropologists flock here throughout the year to explore the unending beauties of the valley that open up one after the other…endlessly.

Daily Chores: A young tribal girl drying clothes outside the house made of straw and bamboo. (above) Dancing to the Tunes: Tribal women performing the Dhimsa dance. (below)

Sidharth Varma

Midhun Raj U.

Araku Valley – the moment one thinks of it, a series of pleasing images of lush green hills and tribal people with their countless festivals and dances rush through one’s mind.

Arnima Rao

Culture treat from the Tribes of Araku

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Photo Feature

Shower of blessings Arnima Rao Chompi

T

h r e e k i l o m e t e r s a way from Araku in a small village called Chompi, tribal families c a m e t o g e t h e r t o c e l e b r a t e a w e d d i n g i n a r a t h e r d i ff e r e n t s t y l e !

T h e B a g a t a t r i b e has been maintaining t h e s a m e r i t u a l s s i n c e 3 0 0 years.

Wi t h an e x t r a o r d i n a r y a spect of dowry being g i v e n b y t h e g r o o m t o t h e b r i d e ’s f a m i l y, t h e wedding couple were in love and decided to get married. Both the families agreed and blessed t h e m . T h e Va n t a g e t e a m w a s g i v e n t h e opportunity to attend the beautiful age-old t r a d i t i o n a l c e r e m o n y.

Photographs by Rahul V. Pisharody

Heavenly blessings: Bride and groom taking blessings from the traditional fire pot.

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Photo Feature

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Here comes the bride!

Shruthi B. Shetty

According to the Bagata tribal culture, the bride is carried by her brother on his shoulder till they reach the house of the groom. This tradition was applicable as all the houses used to be located closely in the community.

In this picture, as the bride did not have a brother, the brother-in-law is seen carrying the bride on his shoulders.

Mantapam The frontyard of the groom’s house decorated for the wedding ceremony.

End to a long wait...

The father of the groom welcomes the bride on her arrival. Also seen is the bride’s mother and her cousin carrying her belongings in a straw basket.

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Photo Feature

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Thus we are united After the bride is brought inside the premises of the groom’s house they are made to stand together wearing the white cloth, which is knoted around both.

As they remain standing, the priest performs the initial rituals.

Later they are made to sit on the ground and a pooja is performed.

Sacred belief In continuation of the pooja, the couple is carried around the house along with fire and axe (as seen in the picture). This symbolises the house as a temple and a prayer ground. This is concidered as the most important aspect of the wedding ceremony.

The final step

Dum-dum!

As the bride was being brought in, simultaneously the drummers were on the go. In this picture the young boys seemed rather enthusiastic as compared to the old man.

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Vantage 2011

As the sun set, the ceremonial prayers begin with the traditional fire pot. The couple took the blessings of the fire God and proceeded into the house for furthar prayers.

Stepping into the house is the final stage as the bride is finally accpeted into the new family. And thus begins the journey of two individuals in love!

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BACK OF THE BOOK

Wetlands or Waste lands?

Rahul V. Pisharody

Land Issues

The proposed site for NCC thermal power plant at Kakarapalli Rahul V. Pisharody KaKarapalli

E

ver wondered what in the world are wetlands? What makes wetlands different from other lands? How important or irrelevant are these to our own survival? Most of us have learnt or at least heard of wetland ecosystems during our school days. So let us refresh our memories.

Wetlands are crucial to the survival of large number of migratory birds. For example, Siberian pelicans come all the way to naupada swamps in Srikakulam district for nesting and laying eggs. Wetlands across the coast of andhra pradesh are in threat of extinction due to development and real estate mafia.

National Wetland Conservation programme (NWCp) explains Wetlands as areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. They occur where the water table is at or near the surface of the land, or where the land is covered by water.

Once treated as ecotones i.e. transitional habitats in succession from open water to land, the wetlands are now considered to be distinct ecosystems with specific ecological

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characteristics, functions and values. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. ramsar convention claims that currently six percent of our planet’s surface consists of wetlands.

Wetlands are considered the most biologically diverse ecosystems. plant life found in wetlands includes mangrove, water lilies, cattails, sedges, tamarack, black spruce, cypress, gum, and many others. animal life includes many different amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects and mammals.

These are lands where soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or seasonally. Such areas may also be covered partially or completely by shallow pools of water. The water found in wetlands can be saltwater, freshwater, or brackish. Wetlands also serve as natural wastewater purification systems e.g., in Calcutta, india a patch of land that develops pools of water after a rain storm would not be considered a "wetland" though the land is wet.

Wetlands have unique characteristics: they are generally distinguished from other water bodies or landforms based on their water level and on the types of plants that thrive within them. Specifically, wetlands are characterized as having a water table

VANTAGE 2011

that stands at or near the land surface for a longer season each year enough to support aquatic plants. put simply, they are lands made up of hydric soil.

Ramsar Convention definition

Under the ramsar international Wetland Conservation Treaty, wetlands are defined as follows: * article 1.1: "...wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres." * article 2.1: "[Wetlands] may incorporate riparian and coastal zones adjacent to the wetlands, and islands or bodies of marine water deeper than six metres at low tide lying within the wetlands."

Wetlands perform two important functions in relation to climate change. They have mitigation effects through their ability to sink carbon, and adaptation effects through their ability to store and regulate water. Wetlands are also very effective at filtering and cleaning polluted water, often from agricultural runoff from the farms that replaced the wetlands in the first place.

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back oF the book

Fowl Play

Midhun Raj U.

A place that birds call home

Nikhil M.G. Srikakulam

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estled in the Santha Bommali mandal of Srikakulam district, andhra Pradesh is a village called Naupada that has become a seasonal resort for exotic birds. Naupada is the only remnant of marsh area on the east coast which makes it an active Pelicanary during the peak winter months. its saline swamp attracts 122 species of migratory birds every year. it is also famous for its salt fields and is popularly called the "Salt bowl of andhra Pradesh�. according to reports of the important Bird area (iBa) programme of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Naupada is critical in supporting the habitat and survival of migratory birds.

This region is identified as a site of special biological significance by the Bonn Convention, which aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species.

This 15-20 sq. km of saline swamp is located 5 km from Telineelapuram, an internationally recognized biodiversity

The approaching dusk: The birds rest after a long day unmindful of what awaits them the coming day. hotspot known for its avifauna. Telineelapuram serves as a habitat for two globally threatened species: the Spot-billed Pelicans and Painted Storks. They migrate to these wintering grounds for nesting and breeding from Siberia. These birds arrive in the month of September and after nesting and hatching they raise the new-borns for seven months before flying back to their motherland in the month of april.

Zoology Professor at andhra university,B. Bharatalakshmi, shares that earlier the number of birds that visited the village was close to 10,000, however, the number today is reduced to 3000. Very few sites like Telineelapuram exist in india today.

The other biodiversity hotspots in andhra Pradesh include Nelapattu in Nellore and uppalapaddu in Guntur.

The Naupada swamp and Telineelapuram have been recognized by international laws and conventions including the ramsar Convention and Convention on Biodiversity. Despite this, the thermal power project promoted by East Coast Energy Private ltd

(ECEPl) is proposed to be located in close vicinity of Naupada swamp. ECEPl has violated several norms specified under the various laws and conventions. The construction of the power plant, filling up the swamp, and diversion of fresh water away from Naupada had all started much before the ministry of Environment and Forests (moEF) even gave its approval. Obstructing the flow of fresh water into Naupada will lead to an increase in salinity in the water, which would lead to the loss of marine life. This would adversely affect the migratory birds which will not have anything to feed on.

The environment clearance for the thermal power plant has been challenged before the National Environment appellate authority (NEaa) in Delhi. a petition was filed by E.a.S. Sarma, Convener of Forum for Better Visakha (FBV). The NEaa partially stayed the work on the project by directing that no new filling up of wetland should take place till the time the appeal is disposed of.

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back oF the book

Fowl Play

From Siberia with Love Telineelapuram has had winged visitors from Siberia during winter for years. It’s a tale of comaraderie and co-living.

eathers form the foliage of trees and thorn bushes in the village of Telineelapuram. This is one of the very few villages in andhra Pradesh where you will

find such a phenomenon. The trees do not grow feathers on them, but the birds that nest on these trees, shed quite a bit of them.

The Painted Stork (mycteria leucocephala), a near threatened species, and the Spotbilled Pelican (Pelicanus philippensis), a vulnerable species, according to the international union for Conservation of Nature

A Siberian Pelican basking in the sun at Telineelapuram

Sabyasachi Patra

F

Sidharth Varma TEliNEElaPuram

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(iuCN) red Data Book are the two important species of birds use this area for roosting, feeding and nesting.

We had our first sight of the birds as twilight set in. We had our mouths open in amazement followed by a smile, seeing every other tree perched upon by these winged visitors. Every year over 2000 birds migrate to this village during the months of October and april. The ideal time to visit the village is from November to January. a lot of visitors travel here during these months.

Gowripati rao, a resident of the village says, “The fresh water that is available in abundance around the village, the Naupada swamp and the sea makes it a congenial place for the birds to nest.” ravi Sankar, a lecturer and resident of the village says the village and its surroundings are fertile feeding ground for the birds with fishes, insects and lots of water. The village has a distinct smell because of the bird droppings. But, it is a popular belief in the village that the smell of the droppings does not cause cancer of any kind. researchers at andhra university record that birds have been following this aerial route since it was first noticed 15 years ago.

But, ronanki Thavudu (80), the oldest person in the village says that birds have been visiting here for about 300 years. He has tales from his grandfather's times of how birds and man have lived together. The village-elder says, “There was a time when visitors used to kill and eat these birds. Some of us recognised the birds' specialty and handed the miscreants to the police.” They are ‘devatha pakshulu’ and travel here for a reason, they must be protected, he adds.

These birds travel in from Siberia and other parts of the north, travelling over the Himalayas to nest here. The weather, alongside

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The young (above) and the old (below): The Painted Storks grow from being dull looking creatures to bright and elegant looking birds. other ecological reasons is why these birds settle here.

The birds have been a constant phenomenon in this village, but there have been times when the birds have not turned up.

“During the iran-iraq war in the 80s there were years when the birds did not visit. it is from my father i have heard this,” says ravi Sankar. This year too there were heavy rains which damaged the nests of birds, he adds.

The villagers here have made it their duty to take care of these birds and consider them as fellow villagers. if a young bird falls out of the nest it is not taken back. it is considered an outcast by the mother. When such incidents happen these birds are taken to the zoological department. The people over the years have educated themselves about the birds as a result of their constant interaction. most houses here have no boundary walls but there are trees or thorn bushes with many nests. The birds lay eggs during the months of November and December. The eggs are as big as an adult palm.

Curiously, these birds do not seem to be scared of fire crackers. “During Diwali when we burst crackers these birds do not get scared. They stay calm in their nests, un-

like our dogs that keep barking or hide some place,” says Sagar, a village teenager. These birds are considered as pets by most people in the village. uppada Bheema rao, an employee with the forest department says, “These birds consume up to five kilograms of fish every

day. The villagers and forest department together have made a feeding ground where these birds could feed from at one end of the village.” The Forest Department also conducts inspection in the area every three months. The only complaint he has is that the feeding ground and the forest department guest house has been built on his land. a big threat that has been looming in the people’s mind of the village is that of the power plant that is being set up near the village. it is also noted that not many older generation in the village seem to be aware of the issue. “The meghavaram Thermal Power Plant of the East Coast Energy Private limited is just six to seven kilometres from the village. We hope this does not affect the movement of birds,” says ravi Sankar. These birds are said to be able to detect radiation that is emitted from power plants and such phenomenons have been reported around the world.

Despite there being a ban on the construction of the power plant, the villagers claim that the civil work has been taking place. a power plant may be a necessity.

But, for the people here it will be at the cost of the winged winter visitors who have been part of their culture and folklore.

Photos by Midhun Raj U.

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GUEST COLUMN

The Design-adVantage Bishwadeep Moitra, Executive Editor, Outlook magazine

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hen receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Society for News Design, the venerable Louis Silverstein, known as the grandfather of news design, narrated why he chose visual journalism as a career. He said, “Of the many odd jobs I did as a teenager, one of them was as a milk delivery boy. One morning when I knocked at a door to deliver milk, a beautiful young blonde wearing a diaphanous negligee opened the door. On finding me there, her face fell in disappointment. ‘I thought it was the newspaper boy,’ she said. That was the day I decided to make a career in newspapers.”

It's true, there’s something irresistibly sexy about the business of news!

The invitation to conduct a news-design workshop at the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts & Communication, University of Hyderabad with fifteen students of print journalism gave me an up-close opportunity to test the venerable grand dad’s choice. I wondered, in the times of 24x7 electronic news, with every channel finding its own stimulant to pump-up the testosterone levels, will the Gen-Y I was to workshop with, find print-design sexy enough?

Escorted by two students from the print journalism department, the University car drove us through the spankingly built new highway that connects the airport to the city. You drive through miles and miles of breathtakingly beautiful rocky landscape – these boulders look like they are arranged by an installation artist from gods own court, laying in its constellation for thousands of years – now at the mercy of the road builder’s bludgeon. Couldn’t we find a less destructive way to construct our highways to the heaven?

The leafy surroundings of the University of Hyderabad campus is litter free, slogan free and tranquil, quite unlike the vandalized campuses of some of the Universities in North India I have had a chance to visit.

Amid boring and box-like buildings of different faculties of the University, stands the aesthetically constructed SN School-- a structure that truly represents the character of an Arts School, both in design and environment.

My boys and girls at the workshop come from almost all parts of India – Meghalaya, TN, AP, Kerala, Karnataka. Not all want to be English language news-journalists. Some want to write for the corporate, some want to be in the regional language press. Some appear keener than the others in this workshop on visual journalism.

The group had visited a site where a nuclear facility is being built. They have reported on the environmental havoc that’s being caused, the human cost of displacement and the tribal life in the region for the magazine we are going to bring out during our workshop. The subject is not too far away from my heart and these guys have done a good job in ‘finding out’ and photographing the region. The challenge that lies before me now is how to teach design to students of print journalism in 4-days’ time.

Design is the overall visual-framework within which different newspapers structure themselves that allows them to create an identifiable personality free of the different editorial positions they often take. The role of a Publication Designer is to configure the visual identity of a publication in a manner that is representative of its genre. To create an identity, that distinctly puts the publication in its desired market segment and, through its specific visual qualities, whether restrained or flamboyant, to hook a prospective consumer and convert him or her into a loyal customer.

Through four mornings and four afternoons we talked design, we talked journalism, we talked ethics – the need, the presence and the absence of it. We discovered new tools in our paginating software Quark Express, we made layouts, we learnt picture editing, we watched films on News Design and then we got exhausted.

As I boarded my flight back home leaving a bunch of bright and inquisitive young people, I couldn’t help winking at the venerable grand dad. As long as the print-publication industry keeps booming and there are no sign of its vulnerability as yet, careers in journalism will remain attractive for the bold and conscientious.

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Photo : Midhun Raj U.

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