Date:01/12/2007URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/01/stories/2007120161611200.htm
Special Correspondent
No plan to provide them with alternative accommodation and means of livelihood
Pollution Control Board did not conduct a proper assessment of environment impact
CUDDALORE: The Communist Party of India has stated that the proposed
power project of the Cuddalore Power Company will displace 3,000
families of agricultural labourers and fishermen from the Thiagavalli
panchayat comprising over 12 villages.
In a representation given to District Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, CPI
district secretary T. Manivasagam alleged that neither the State
Government nor the power company seemed to have put in place any plan
to provide them with alternative accommodation, means of livelihood and
jobs.
For want of the protective measures these families would be rendered refugees in their native places.
The party further stated that the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
did not seem to have done proper assessment of environment impact and
the quality of raw materials to be used in power generation.
Mr. Manivasagam noted that the power company had proposed to acquire
1,200 acres and to facilitate this the Government had passed an order
banning transactions of property in these villages, other than to the
power company. Therefore, the villagers were constrained to dispose of
their property at whatever price offered by the power company.
Exploiting the situation, the power company was offering lesser price
than what was given by certain other private companies setting up their
units in the region. The CPI noted that through such deceptive means
the Government was colluding with the power company to put up the
plant. He urged the Government to withdraw its order so as to restore
the democratic rights of the villagers on their property holdings.
He alleged that the official machinery was misused to force the
villagers to endorse the project through the pseudo public hearing
(held on Wednesday). Mr. Manivasagam said thrusting the project upon
the local people without giving due consideration to their
socio-economic conditions and environmental concerns ran contrary to
democratic practices.
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