“Legally Bound or Illegally Forced”

‘POSCO’ a South Korean-based mega Company signed an M.O.U. with the State Government of Orissa in 2005 to invest US $ 12 Billion for an integrated steel plant to manufacture more than 10 million tonnes of steel by the year 2011. Looking to the violations of the forest Act committed by POSCO the clearance of the Ministry of Environment & Forest was withdrawn in October 2010 after an intervention by the Supreme Court. About 11 Villages, 471 families and the lands of some 10,000 farmers are likely to be affected by the proposed project at Jagatsingpur near Paradeep Sea Port on the eastern coast. This is going to be the first largest foreign direct investment (FDI) in India. A high level discussion at the level of Heads of Governments during the latest visit of Indian Prime Minister for G20 meeting at Seoul had worked in favour of the Company. Due to PMO’s pressure and advice, the Ministry of Environment has finally cleared the Project for implementation with several conditions.

How strict our governments are in implementing the rules & regulations or conditions, everybody knows. We also know very well what is going to be the fate of the displaced persons in this project too. ‘ Environment Vs Development ‘ is an eternal question defying a solution satisfactorily to both the groups. We can only wish good luck and god speed to proper rehabilitation by the committed staff of the governments and the Company.

Interestingly a green war has begun within UPA government & Congress Party. When PMO is concerned about growth, the Environment Ministry as well as Congress Party’s General Secretary, Mr. Digvijjay Singh are concerned about forests, tribals and environment. It is a natural fall-out. Internally a tug of war or the war of nerves is going on of late. General Secretary is a bit outspoken and one should appreciate this fact. The real problem or the crux of the issue is how serious or sincere we are towards the tribals and forests. It would be a better idea to quickly conduct a survey on some of the projects already cleared by the Ministry in the last 10-15 years. It is high time we test the promises of all those project authorities on rehabilitation of the displaced persons and the alternative afforestation schemes executed by the forest department (after collecting huge funds from the Project Authorities) or undertaken by the Project Management Teams in such areas.