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Peace Initiative: CM Clears Way For Vedanta

By Raja Jaikrishan

06 May, 2010
Countercurrents.org

You say that my desire to be free
Is too much for your precious jungle
Yet you set fire to the boat carrying my feelings
Surround this sea of feeling with desert sand
But listen!
Whatever happens ...
Suffocation, torture, desert or jungle
This prisoner breathes

(From Noshi Gillani’s This Prisoner Breathes)

After Maoist ambush of 75 Central Reserve Police Force troopers in mineral–rich Dantewada district, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has planned to raise at least six battalions of the local tribal youth for the rebel–dominated areas.

As if uprooting thousands of Ghonds from their natural nests to Salwa Jhudam slums was not enough,he has now decided to set brother on brother to clear way for mining companies to deplete the area of ores in advasis-worshipped hills.

On a salary of Rs 3000 per month the tribal youth will be set on his brother resisting along side the Maoist the corporate war on their srvival.The existing 4200 SPOs gather information and show security forces maoist camps in the deep.

The advasis have resisted British machinations and are doing so of their ‘own government’.In their fight for survival they are violating ‘laws’ punishable with death by encounter or rape or both.

The Chief Minister has given the nod for transfer of 600 acres of government land to Vedanta-controlled Balco at Korba in the state. The issue, which has been in dispute for the last half-a-decade, was reportedly debated in and outside Cabinet .

“The chief minister cleared transfer of the land to Balco as per the recent directive of the Chhattisgarh high court”. Balco had taken 1,100 acres in advance possession to set up its one million tonne aluminium plant project at Korba during 1968-75. The plant had, however, allegedly encroached nearly 660 acres of forest and government land.
The Central government had decided to off load 51 per cent of its stake in the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in favour of Vedanta group of London –based Anil Agarwal in March 2001.

The state government came across the land encroachment by Balco in 2005. Soon after this, the state government served notice to the company in this regard.
Balco had, however, moved the Chhattisgarh HC challenging the notice. The company won a favourable order from the HC on February 25, 2010.

But pressure had reportedly been mounting on the chief minister since then to move the Supreme Court against the HC’s order. The issue had reportedly divided the state ministry with a section supporting to honour the HC directive and the rival group opposing the move to hand over the land to Balco.

What a pity! Instead of paying heed to social activist Mahasweta Devi’s counsel of holding talks with the Maoists and halting Operation Green Hunt,the government is killing and arresting civil rights activists.