The New Indian Express, Septe 19, 2007
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
BERHAMPUR: As multinational companies and industrial houses eye natural resource enriched forests and bauxite rich zone in South Orissa, a fear of largescale displacement of tribal populace looms large.
According to conservative estimates, livelihood of around 50,000 adivasis of undivided Koraput and Kalahandi will be affected if industrialisation takes place. In the past five decades, in the name of industrialisation, a large chunk of forest land has been cleared up during construction of different hydel projects like Indravati, Machhkund, Kolab and Balimela. Thousands of adivasis have been displaced, but they are yet to be properly rehabilitated.
According to some environmentalists, government is blindly changing laws in the name of controlling forest produces, but not in a single case the rights of tribals and jungle dwellers have been safeguarded.
If the government hands over the remaining forest lands to mine owners, paper mills or big industrial houses without considering the socio-economical and environmental impacts on the people at large, it would lead to a devastating situation, experts feel.
About 70 to 80 per cent of the total bauxite reserve of the world is located in the east-coast bauxite belt, particularly South Orissa mines like in Niyamgiri, Baffimali, Kodingmali, Pachpatmali and Deomali regions.
All the companies, which are interested to invest here, are not showing any interest to develop the area or the lives of the locals, allege some social activists. Similarly paper mill owners, who are seeking lease of forest lands, would clear up the rich Tik woods and encourage bamboo and eucalyptus plantation. In all these activities, the productivity of land will be badly affected besides affecting the groundwater resources and drying up natural fountains.
South Orissa is home to around two-third of the total adivasi population in State. They will be affected if all the projects are implemented, experts said.
No comments:
Post a Comment