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Whither green activism?
Written By murali772 - 31 May, 2013
environment Media Reports Karnataka sustainable development Health hazard
Green activists and local villagers have taken serious exception to proposals from defence and research institutions to build sensitive projects on the 10,000 acres of Amrit Mahal Kaval land allotted to them in Challakere taluk of Chitradurga district. Among the sensitive projects are a Defence Research Development Organization proposal to start an aeronautical test range involving flying and testing of drones and a plan by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (Barc) to set up an Uranium Enrichment Centre in their midst. "The Barc plan envisages conducting experiments with uranium, which will not only ruin the fertility of the land but put the lives of so many villagers at risk. Fear already pervades the grasslands," Leo Saldanha, co-ordinator, Environment Support Group, told a press conference here on Thursday.
For the full report in the ToI, click here.
This so-called grass-land is what you see in the picture, taken from ESG's web-site, accessible here. And, very likely, the picture was taken during the monsoon period. During the dry season, meaning for most of the year (the average annual rainfall at best of times being around 450mm - check data on the area here, the picture generally is one of total desolation. Essentially, these are totally arid lands, as compared to say a Singur (in West Bengal), from where TELCO was driven away, and perhaps rightly so.
Now, in such a location, the government is proposing to set up a whole new town-ship, comprising, apart from DRDO and BARC (talked about by the so-called "green activists"), there are also going to be new campuses of IISc, ISRO, apart from a 25MW solar park, a KSIDC ancillary industrial estate, and KHB's project for housing of all the people going to be moving in there. So, if there is any threat from any of DRDO's and BARC's activities for the local population, as being made out by the "green activists", it is going to be there for the staff of these organisations too. And, I expect you need to credit them with enough sense not to want to endanger the lives of their own people.
As such, I can't see why there should be any serious objection to this 'diversion' of land use, which will apart from everything else help transform the economy of this otherwise impoversished region, and prevent migration of the population to Bangalore and other cities.
The court has entertained the petition perhaps because the laid down procedures have not been followed, and to that extent there may be some merit to the PIL exercise. But, otherwise, I can't see what this hulla-balloo is all about. All the same, I am open to debate on the subject, and if convinced of the merits, I may even change my view.
Muralidhar Rao
COMMENTS
Tehelka report - don't impress me much
murali772 - 29 June, 2013 - 06:23
“People in these areas have been living in sub-standard conditions. There are no proper schools and no toilets,” says HS Jagadeesh, IISC’s special officer for the Challakere project. “With the coming up of the projects, the quality of life in general will improve. There will be ample employment opportunities. Also, a scientific city will emerge in a backward district.”
At its core, the conflict is between the promise of a technologically advanced society pitted against the traditional livelihoods of pastoral communities. There is also the question of whether the wild species on the verge of extinction, such as the Great Indian Bustard, can survive the drone testing, the nuclear fuel enrichment facilities, and the intense urbanisation and industrialisation that will follow
Jagadeesh says, “Development will come at some cost.” However, the people of Challakere ask why they should be the ones to pay the price.
For the full report, click here.
The essence of the report is captured in the above extract. As far as I am concerned, I am not changing my stand.
murali772 - 27 July, 2013 - 07:07
A press release by ESG titled "Chitradurga Deputy Commissioner Office Swarmed by Hundreds of Villagers and Thousands of Sheep - Protest against illegal diversion of Grasslands intensifies" in the matter, dt 25th July '13, is attached to my opening post. Some relevant extracts from the same, and my comments against them, are given below:
He also said that the region has been suffering from prolonged drought and the people are heavily dependent on livestock-rearing. In the absence of alternatives, the struggle to secure the grazing lands will only intensify in the future.
I remember seeing a movie - "Taballiyu Neenadre' Magane'" (by Girish Kasaravalli?), or something to that effect, long back, on the plight of people dependent largely on cattle rearing in drought-stricken regions, and their sufferings thereof. It was quite a moving depiction.
Nilkantha Mama, an elderly nomadic shepherd from Belgaum also addressed the gathering. He said he has grazed his sheep in these kavals and has seen that they are rich in medicinal plant wealth. There are also several fruits and tubers that they would eat while grazing their sheep and he attributes his good health and the longevity of his ancestors to these foods. He extended his support for the campaign and said these kavals are crucial for their survival. Women from Dodda Ullarthi and Molakalmuru sang songs on the Kavals.
What is being advocated essentially amounts to perpetuating a certain rural lifestyle, generation after generation. While a Nilkantha mama may subscribe to the same, I doubt if any of his sons or daughters who have noticed one of their ilk, Sri Siddaramaiah, rise to the level of the CM of the state, will want to subscribe the lifestyle for their children.
murali772 - 31 July, 2013 - 06:28
Meanwhile, word came of tribal children in Attapady in Palghat district dying of malnutrition in a state like Kerala which boasts the highest HDI in India, standing comparison with the best in the world. Likewise in the adjacent Silent Valley, home to other tribal communities.
The Kerala tribal belts have been kept outside the purview of the protective Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. Silent Valley has been shielded from deve-lopment and kept as a nature reserve as a result of the exertions of many environmental champions.
But who answers for or protests tribal deaths there and elsewhere in Kerala — or India? Once the environmental battle is "won", tribals are left to suffer deprivation and death, quietly and unmourned in pristine surroundings. Sadly, the entire tribal question has been placed outside and beyond the poverty framework. Poverty of thinking on this issue is staggering. Real issues remain un-debated while trivia and electoral politics reign.
Things can change and will do so if the UPA presses ahead with reforms and breaks the environmental logjam on several large infrastructure projects.
For the full text of the column by Sri B G Verghese, in the ToI, click here
I had similarly wondered about the tribals in Andaman & Nicobar islands, who came into reckoning when the story broke in the media, sometime back, about a set of intrepid forest guards organising a "tribal-sighting" racket there for tourists. There was much noise generating then from expected quarters about how the tribal's pristine lifestyle would get affected by the disturbance caused by tourists, etc, etc. So, is it the position of these worthies, as also the government of the country, that these "human beings" should continue to live an animal existence?
does the region itself have a say, what does Chitradurga want?
silkboard - 26 September, 2013 - 04:23
Haven't read any good reports on what is it that the people of the region want. If Chitradurga doesn't want "development" at the cost of some "green" land, why can state not put the project out as a package to all the districits, one who wants could 'bid' for it. And if no-one is interested, then curtains. ashtay.
I don't know if things work this way. But they should.
comments extracted from a y-group
murali772 - 2 June, 2013 - 10:57
Comments in Yahoo-group, where I had posted a link:
SP:
The "activists" seem to believe there would be radioactivity spilling over and affecting the land. They do not seem to have any idea of a containment zone or containment within the facility itself which would affect not only the BARC scientists but also the DRDO. It is alright to be cynical but it has to be backed by rationale and facts.
JS:
Well said
SG:
Our environment groups/green activists object to any type of change. They should be balanced in their approach to solutions concerning both facts & realities and also the progress of the country.
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