Agriculture is ignored in the country dependent on Agriculture
A PUCL REPORT
And SEZ in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat
Reliance Industries started its oil refinery in Lalpur taluka of the Jamnagar district in 1999. Later government cleared a proposal for SEZ to the Industry. For the two projects, government acquired land belonging to farmers, wasteland and Gochar land. This raised issues.
Acquisition of farmers' land has caused disputes. Many who were unwilling to part with their land have been forced to give the land. They are still staying on their land. Reliance has also taken over Gochar land in some villages. Pollution has increased. Local people have lost employment.
Local people met president of Lok Samiti Chunibhai Vaidya. He visited the area and later organised a convention on May 11,2008, a gramswaraj sammelans was organised. About 900 joined it. People awareness work has been started and it would continue.
At the same time, Gujarat unit of PUCL felt that there was violation of Human Rights. It formed a committee to deeply study the situation. The committee got support from Gujarat Lok Samiti and Gujarati Biradari.
The committee visited affected areas on May 6, 2008 and met people who had lost their land and those who are being bullied. The Committee also met officers of the Reliance and the District Collector and discussed the issue.
After an exhaustive study of all aspects of the issue, this report has been prepared which is now being presented before people of Gujarat. PUCL extends hearty thank to Gujarat Lok Samiti, Gujarat Biradari and all others for full support they gave to the committee. PUCL will chalk out an action plan on the basis of the recommendations of the report in consultation with Gujarat Lok Samiti and others. The Summary of the Report is attached herewith.
Members of the Committee :
Dr. Praful Dave, Gujarat Biradari ,
Vipul Pandya , Asangatith Baandhkam Mazdoor Sangthan , Ahmedabad
Meenakshi Joshi , All
Kamlesh Bhavsar Advocate, Ahmedabad
Dinkar Pandya Journalist, Ahmedabad
Aniruddhsinh Jadeja Coordinator, Saurashtra Lok Samiti ,
Sagar Rabari
Vijay Ashar, Gujarat Biradari ,
Gautam Thakar ,Secretary PUCL
Summary of the Report
Government is creating new landlords.
Reliance has got 1986 Hectare of land. It has 1042 hectare Agricultural land of 148 families of four villages- Navagam, Kanalus, Padana and Kaanchhikaara. Gochar land is 551 hectare and government wasteland 393 hectare. It has got 2901 hectare land for SEZ.
Ruthlessness of the landlord
Some have sold land willingly while some surrendered it fearing that they would not withstand the pressure. However, those whose land is fertile and have water, they are not willing to sell the land. Attempts are being made to get the land of these farmers by hook or the crook.
17 families of Khavdi who were not willing to sell the land were thrown out by the Deputy Collector with the help of police after giving them three notices. Standing crop was destroyed. One of the families is living in a container. They are being harassed.
The two bases of village Agriculture and cattle rearing are being taken away
Government rules require 40 acre of gochar land for every 100 cattle. But this policy is just ignored and the Gochar land is being given to the industries. In villages, agriculture, cattle rearing and village industries are the source of livelihood. We have not allowed village industry to survive, agricultural land is being given to industries and even Gochar land is being taken away. What about village people. We want to make them labourers.
Drinking water is being deprived and the rest of the water is polluted
In 1998 a pipeline was set up to provide water to 20 villages from Panna Dam. This was built at a cost of Rs five crore. Reliance has bought the land. Pipeline has been removed. Artificial domes of land created to show the land a wasteland, turns nightmare for farmers in monsoon. The land washed away from the domes spoils fertile top of the farmlands. Coal used by the industry is polluting underground water which is even depleting because of heavy withdrawal.
Misleading offers
It was said that local people will get employment, but none has got. A person per family was to be given job, but nothing has been provided. People bought vehicles to give to company on rent. They are lying unused.
People living in poverty
Those who sold their land , squandered their money and now they have no source of income. Lavish life has turned them lazy. Basically government policy is anti village and anti farmer. Wasteland should have been given to villagers, but it is given to industrialists.
Fundamentally wrong
If we see in totality, we have taken a wrong direction of development. What benefit of the development which increases economic imbalance, lakhs of people lose their land, houses and pollution becomes a major problem while slum dwellers around industries were living pitiable life.
All must get benefits of development and it should not damage environment. Gandhiji used to say that production by many hands generated employment for lots of people. For this, rural industries, agriculture and animal husbandry must be promoted. Give villages infrastructure, give education.
What does Supreme Court says
Central government wants to include personal and corporate interest in the public interest. Supreme Court has verdict "Government is not the owner of Natural Resources. Government is its trustee. Society has given it the task of administration of the resources. Government should use it in the wide interest. These resources cannot be given to private owners or for commerce and industry.
Committee has made certain important suggestions.
1- Government policy should aim at promoting rural industries, agriculture, animal husbandry and the farmer
2- Agricultural land should not be converted into non agriculture to be given to industry.
3- There should not be any pressure on a villager who does not want to sell his land.
4- land owner has a right to fix price of his land
5- In case the land is required then the farmer should be given fertile land elsewhere
6- At least one member of the family of a farmer whose land is taken should be provided job
7- No one should be allowed to sell Gochar land. It should be according to the number of cattles.
8- There should be a clear definition of Public Interest.
9- The person whose land is taken must be made share holder.
- 10 -The first right on the excess government land is of agricultural labourers, poors and dalit. These persons should be given necessary material along with the land.
10- Industries should adopt reverse osmosis method for gaining water and should not withdraw from underground water.
11- Pollution Board should be very vigilant to make sure that Industries do not pollute land, water and sea.
Lok Samiti had organised a seminar on the issues of villagers. Despite all efforts of Industrialists, about 1000 people gathered. When 70 percent of the population is dependent on agriculture, farmers should be given all kind of support and agriculture should be promoted.
Dr. Praful Das ,Chairman Inquiry Committee
Chunibhai Vaidya ,Chairman Jeevan Adhikar Sangh
Gautam Thakar ,Secretary, PUCL
Main issues of the Report
Immense problems to villagers by Jamnagar Refinery
· Use of force against those who do not want to sell their land
· Company has removed the drinking water pipeline which used to provide water to 20 villages.
· Local people are deprived of employment
· There should be a clear definition of Public Interest
· Coal in open polluting wells and dams
· Gochar land taken away
· Heavy withdrawal of ground water by the Industry
· Total 6873 Hectare land given to the Reliance Refinary. This includes 393 hectare wasteland, 1042 hectare private land, 551 hectare Gochar land, 2901 Hectare land for the SEZ
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