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December 17, 2006
Stop "State Repression" in Kinnaur
Police fired on protesters rallying against the setting up of the Karcham Wangtu hydro electric project in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. We are requesting your expression of solidarity with the Karcham Wangtu Sangharsh Samiti and the Himalayan Policy Campaign Committee, demanding justice from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
Karcham Wangtu Hydel project on the Sutlej River is being implemented in Kinnaur by Jay Prakash Hydropower Limited. It has faced opposition from the local communities since 2000. A report published by South Asia Network of Dams, Rivers and People has pointed to people being against the project since its conception. It reports:
Despite requesting Environment Impact Assessment documents in Hindi through 4 public hearings, these documents have not been provided. Ulla, Urni, Chagaon and Meeru villages expect to be badly affected by the construction. These communities are also well aware of the adverse impacts of neighboring Sanjay HEP and Natpa Jhakri HEP. State Council of Environment, which is responsible for accessing impact of Projects on the socio-economic aspects of the lives of the native populations, had placed conditions for the project to go ahead, but J.P. Industries got approval from Central Environment Ministry. The HPCC has alleged that the state administration has come to the "rescue" of the money-powered Industrial House, instead of protecting the rights of the native populations. Gram-panchayats of Miroo, Yula, Urni, Chagaon, Panvi, Poonang, Ramani and Brua, exercised their right conferred to them under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, had not given their consent to set up the project within their territories. The State does not have the rights to force the project down on the population without their consent. And yet it attempts to do so.
On 9th December, protesting tribal communities decided to pay obeisance to their local deity Lord Maheshwar at the project site. The tribal were not allowed to do so as Sec. 144 was imposed on that area which prohibited any gathering. Despite repeated requests by the tribal communities, the administration did not relent and when people tried to force the issue the idol of Lord Maheswara was confiscated and thousands of people in the procession were lathi charged, tear gassed, hit by water cannons and fired on. 13 people are reported to be injured and 3 wounded by the bullets; they are admitted to Rampur and Shimla hospital.
The situation has not improved as people have been sitting on Dharna since yesterday noon against the oddity of freezing weather and tough conditions . The traffic has been blocked and no vehicular movement has been allowed. Mr. Sushil Sanan Negi (President Khabo-Shaso Sangars Samiti), Mr. R.S Negi and Mr. Raj Kishor Negi are reported to be in police custody. People on Dharna have demanded the release of the arrested and are not ready to speak with administration before their release.
In solidarity with the Karcham Wangtu Sangharsh Samiti and the Himalayan Policy Campaign Committee, we, the undersigned are requesting that process be followed where those arrested be released, and the project not go ahead till No Objection Certificates are not given by the affected communities, the conditions set by the State Council of Environment are met and the rights of the local communities are honored.
For Campaign Committee for National Himalayan Development Policy Norbu Soriya Nitin Negi Rahul Negi Sanjeev Negi Vimalbhai
For Campaign Committee for National Himalayan Development Policy Kulbhushan Upmanyu, Convener Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Guman Singh, Coordinator Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Sukhdev Vishwa Premi,Secretary Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Sushil Kumar Sharma, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Prof. K S Dheer District Convener Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy P R Ramesh, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Uma Mahajan, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Pushpa Chauhan, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Rajesh Mehta Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Daulat Ram Verma, Former Zila Parishad Chairperson Rattan Chand, environmentalist and member Zila Parishad, Chamba Subhash Mendhapurkar President SAHI C/O SUTRAJAGJIT NAGAR Prof A S Sankhayan, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla Prof. Hira Singh Parmar, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla Vidya Negi, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Naval Kishore, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Rahul Saxena, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Satya Prashan, People's Voice for Democratic Rights Amar Singh Kaundal, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Bimla Vishwapremi, Pesident, Himachal Nari Sabha Desh Raj Member, Bar council Himachal Pradesh Rajeev Rai Advocate Bipin Rai Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Dilip Sebak, Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Arun Srivastva Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Dr.Ravi Chopra Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Dr.Shekhar Pathak Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Dr.Shamsher Bisht Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Kuldeep Verma Campaign for National Himalayan Development Policy Vijay Jardhari Beej Bachao Andolan
Some Clippings of Printed News Follow Project Anger Kinnaur, December 9 However, the situation became violent when hundreds of tribal people tried to break prohibitory orders imposed by the District Administration under Section 144 of the Cr.P.C. These prohibitory orders were imposed to prevent the agitating tribal people from entering the construction site of this power project. Mr Arvind Sharda, SP, told The Tribune when the police force tried to stop agitating people, a few of them climbed nearby hilltops and started throwing stones on the police as a result of which at least 25 police personnel were injured. Later, the police used water cannons, teargas and also resorted to firing in which at least five tribal persons were injured. One of them got a bullet injury on his arm, claimed Shyam Sunder Negi, president of the Karcham-Wangtoo Sangharsh Samiti. Situation was still tense and the tribal people had blocked the Hindustan-Tibet road near Wangtoo when the news report was last filed. The police has registered a case against the tribal people for causing hurt to the police personnel and violating prohibitory orders. On the other hand when contacted Mr B.R. Verma, District Magistrate of Kinnaur who visited the spot along with the SP in the evening, claimed that the situation was under control at the moment.
Tribal hurdles galore but company decides to begin construction
The project is the nation's largest private venture in the hydroelectric power generation. Under this project, a 98 m high dam has been proposed to be constructed on the Sutlej near Karcham village. The project, which has been granted sanction on a built-own-operate basis, is likely to be commissioned by the end of the year 2009. But, the voice of the local people is coming in its way, therefore, the fate of this mega-project seems to be uncertain at the moment. Sources in the JAL revealed to The Tribune that the company authorities had finally decided to begin the construction work on the main tunnel, the dam and other sites of project in few days so as to avoid cost over-run. The company claims that both the Centre and the state government have granted permission to them in this regard. The company is already carrying out construction work on the diversion tunnel of the project near Karcham. However, legal hurdles created by the local gram panchayats, likely to be affected by this project, seem to be coming in the way of the project. There is a strong opposition from the tribal people of Kinnaur with regard to the construction work on the main tunnel. The gram panchayats of Miroo, Yula, Urni, Chagaon, Panvi, Poonang, Ramani and Brua exercising rights conferred to them under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution had already denied permission to set up the project within their territories. Ever since, the company was awarded the contract on a built-own-operate basis in the year 1999, the issues related to its impact on environment of the area raised by the local people and the gram sabhas continue to hamper the work on this mega hydroelectricity project. The biggest hurdle is the amended 'Himachal Pradesh Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act-1968' that makes it mandatory for the private investors to get prior consent of the panchayats/gram sabhas concerned before seeking clearances from the required departments of the state government to initiate work on the project. Concerned over the environmental hazards in the already fragile mountainous area, local villagers and non-governmental organisations have also stood up against this proposed project. Mr R.S. Negi, a former IAS-turned-environmentalist, along with a deputation of local people, met Mr Kunwar Singh, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), during his visit to the tribal district last week and apprised him of the prevailing situation. The Chairman had assured the deputation that the construction work would not be allowed to begin without the consent of the gram panchayats concerned. When contacted, Dr Amandeep Garg, District Magistrate, Kinnaur, told The Tribune that the JAL authorities had recently approached the district administration to provide adequate security to them so that the construction work could be started smoothly. In reply to a question, the DM said: "The district administration is committed to provide adequate security to the company whenever they demand it for initiating the construction work on the right bank so as to avoid any clash between them and the local people."
Project Name: Karcham- Wantoo Hydroelectric Project (1000MW) Human Right Violation Of Tribal in Kinnaur
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