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humanhorizons said
Condemn Land Grabbing from poor farmers in the name of SEZ in Polepally
Background
Displaced and harassed farmers of Polepally village of Jedcharla Block in Mahboobnagar District have been struggling since five years. They are against forced acquisition of their lands by Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure and Industrial Corporation (APIIC).
The APIIC, an undertaking of AP government first identified an area of 1000 acres of land in three villages viz., Polepally, Mudureddypally and Gundlagadda Thanda in Jedcharla Block of Shamshabad way back in 2001.
Initially the villagers were told that a green park is going to be launched there. And land acquisitions started in that name. In 2003 the APIIC made started aggressively grabbing the land form the poor farmers. In the following years various tactics were used to coerce the communities into giving up their lands. Acquisitions were later carried out for a Pharmaceutical Special Economic Zone Polepally village, Jedcharla Mandal, Mahboobnagar district is spread over 250 acres. The SEZ has received a formal approval from the Ministry of Commerce when Special Economic Zone Act 2005 was introduced at the Centre.
The SEZ Act is meant for corporate sector, both local and multinational capitalist interests. IUN Polepally it is having additional dimension as the tool of a casteist aggression. Because all the lands acquired belong to predominantly dalits, scheduled tribes and some backward communities. All neighboring lands of the upper castes are clearly excluded form any exclusions! SEZ in Polepally fulfills a casteist capitalist combine of ruling classes having their representatives in every sphere of governance- bureaucracy, elected representatives, section of media among others – that is ever willing to sacrifice people’s interests before the lure of money bags.
SEZ is here to loot thousands of acres of land from poor peasants. Govt has become a real estate broker throwing to winds the constitutional promises of social justice and welfare of the poorest. Current rulers have moved far away from sort of ‘Self Reliance’ to ‘Help Reliance’ and serve interests of all desi videsi corporate groups. SEZ is the special means for that loot in which the state would offer resources and people’s entitlements in silver plate to the money bags! Now it is Reliance, Tata, Aurobindo, Adidas, Saleem Groups, Satyam, WIPRO and others who are most important and justifying the sacrifice of thousands and millions of poor people of the country.
Government has become a mafia resorting to all illegal means of looting lands of the poor in Polepally SEZ. They grabbed land for paltry amounts like Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 per acre in Gundlagadda Thanda, Mudireddypalli and Polepally villages. Some farmers did not even get that amount.
Forty one farmers have lost their lives in these villages because of SEZ looting their lands. Farmers with self pride have suddenly become beggars in their own lands and “bonded labourers” of a fate worse than death. They are now forced to work for SEZ in the farm lands that once belonged to them. Part of the acquired land in Polepally, around 300 acres, was once given to dalits and the poor as assigned lands during the regime of Indira Gandhi. Current Indiramma Rajyam of YSR- Sonia type has made them paupers and their women into widows and children into orphans
Affected farmers pleaded every political party and officials for justice. But in vain. Promises of good houses, jobs and other facilities vanished into thin air once their lands slipped off their hands. Now they are beggars, and are jailed and beaten by authorities and mafia. All political parties including Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) are responsible for the deaths of Polepally farmers.
The deceived and exploited farmers continued their struggle into by-elections held in May 2008. The affected farmers wanted to voice their woes and expose how they are cheated by one and all here in the name of all-important-SEZ. Thirteen members (Smt Mala Jangilamma; Smt Satyamma; Smt Mogulamma; Depalli Chinna Venkanna; Depalli Yadaiah; Kanduri Kurmaiah; Kanduri Narasimha; Etti Lingaiah;Etti Srinivasulu; Harijana Danaiah; Gopala Krishna, Seenaiah Ggoud, Ravula Krishnaiah) of the poor farmers contested in the by-elections to tell the world that these political parties have mortgaged interests of the poor before the SEZ lords. They appealed to citizens of the land and all those concerned that SEZ specter is going to kill the farmers now and everyone gradually and destroy our natural resources also.
Facing the mainstream political parties is no small thing. Politicians and local officials harassed the contestants and the people of Polepally. Poor people were terrorized. They were abducted and threatened of dire consequences if they don’t withdraw or don’t campaign for the Congress party. They were threatened and ‘advised by well meaning activists’ to withdraw nominations because it is time NOW to support the TRS candidate who is sitting MLA. Farmers who contested were denied of permission for using mikes, holding public meetings, vehicles and finally the contestants were also abducted on 23 May. They were released later because of local people’s pressure and the media coverage of the heinous crimes of the ruling party and local officials
All other political parties are silently supporting the murder of democracy in Polepally. Anti SEZ farmers committee appealed all democratic sections to condemn atrocities against the poor and violation of the election norms.
Contestants became popular as ‘Polepally thirteen’. They challenged all ruling parties with their strong conviction and faith in people’s wisdom. They gained more than 8,600 votes to great surprise of every observer in the state when each vote was precious and so expensive!
Polepally, however, is gaining people’s support. Several activists who are working on SEZs visited Polepally and supported their struggle. Many leading newspapers reported the struggle and electoral battle. Polepally SEZ Vyathireka Ikya Sanghatana organized series of Dharnas and meetings in State and local level. Recently the committee submitted memorandum to APIIC. There were 200 farmers in the dharna at APIIC in Hyderabad. Head of Nava Telangana Praja Party also joined the people in dharna. Some other political parties are also now talking of the atrocities in the name of Polepally SEZ.
But the exploitation and starvation in Polepally is unchecked even today. One lady recently made suicide attempt.
It is time to express solidarity with the farmers struggle against SEZ and demand withdrawal of SEZ. It is time to say self respect and entitlements of the poor are not to be sacrificed in favor of the greed of the rich
Demand justice to poor people of Polepally SEZ and give back lands to the poor farmers
Demand withdrawal of Polepally SEZ immediately
Save Mahboobnagar from the poisonous Pharma industry that is banned elsewhere
Polepally is all Violations
Forced Acquisition of Land using the Land Acquisition Act – Despite the repeated opposition and protests 300 acres of land in Mudureddypally and 700 acres in Polepally the land was acquired by the APIIC. The total number of affected families – 80 families in Mudureddypally and 300 families in Polepally, Gundlagadda Thanda were directly affected by the land acquisition
Use of coercive tactics by the local revenue administration and local representatives – Consistent threats were used by the local administration that compensation amounts would be reduced if the land were not transferred to the APIIC. Local MLA Mr Laxma Reddy and other political parties not only supported the project but also used various methods to coerce the people into selling their lands
No information about the Project to the communities – The communities had no clue that the SEZ and the APIIC Green Industrial Park were two separate projects. There is no information given to the affected people about the nature of these projects
Acquisition of Assigned Lands belonging to SC, ST and BCs – The acquired land comprises of 300 acres in Mudureddypally and 700 acres in Polepally of which 300 acres were ceiling lands assigned to Dalits and Tribals during the regime of Indira Gandhi. All these assigned lands were cultivated by the households. The government has initiated use of ‘alienated’ assigned lands under an amendment made in 2006 in the A.P Assigned Lands (Prohibition of Transfers) Act, 1977. But in this particular case none of the lands were alienated. In fact they formed the only source of livelihood for the poor farmers.
Discrimination in compensation amounts and rampant corruption – Land losers received varying rates of compensation. While the people who lost assigned lands were given only Rs. 18,000/acre those with regular pattas received from 1 to 1.25 lakh per acre. For the lands closer to the Highway the compensation rates were higher. The same lands are now being given to private companies for about 60 lakhs an acre. Further there are many families who haven’t received the entire compensation amount. While some have received 50% there are more than 15 families who have not received any compensation at all.
No Public Hearing for Environment Clearance – Despite this being a Pharma SEZ project there has been no Public Hearing on the Environmental impacts of the project and no information made available about the clearance to the project. Construction work on the project has already been initiated this year by Aurobindo Pharma
No inquiry into unnatural deaths of farmers – This village never had any cases of farmers suicides or farmer distress related deaths in the past when there were farmers’ suicides in the state due to drought and other factors. But with SEZ there came suicide cases and 41 unnatural deaths amongst the land losing families. Locals claim that this is due to indebtedness and poverty induced by forced loss of lands. So far no inquiries have been made into unnatural deaths!
Polepally SEZ Vyathireka Ikya Sanghatana.
Convenor: Madhu Kagula,
Telangana SEZ Vyathireka Ikya Sanghatana:
Sujatha Surepally. 098494 68281
humanhorizons said
PUBLIC HEARING ON POLEPALLY SEZ
Venue: Polepally Village, Jadcherla mandal, Mahaboobnagar District
Date: 7 August, 2008 at 9 A.M
Panelists
Balaswamy Goud Sarpanch, Polepally Village, will Chair the program
1. Justice Kolse Patil Former Judge, Bombay High Court
2. Mr. Vilas Sonawane Working President, Lok Sashan Andolan, Maharashtra
3. Mr. Balagopal Convenor, Human Rights Forum
4. Ms. Hemalatha Advocate, Activist, Kakinada SEZs
5. Mr. Niroop Reddy Senior Lawyer, Supreme Court, New Delhi
6. Pashyam Yadagiri Convenor, Telangana Ikya Karyacharana Committee
5. Prof. Seshaiah APCLC
6. Ms. Rathnamala PUCL, Andhra Pradesh
Victims from all the three villages (Polepally, Gundlagadda Thanda, Mudireddypally) from where the land has been acquired for the said SEZ will share their experiences.
Coordinators:
Madhu Kagula, Surepally Sujatha,
M. Bharath Bhushan Dileep Konatham, Jaya Prakash
Organisations
Polepally SEZ Vyathireka Ikya Sanghatana
Telangana Ikya Karyacharana Committee
Telangana SEZ Vyathireka Ikya Sanghatana
Contact : Surepally Sujatha for further details at 9849468281
Email : ssurepally@gmail.com
P.S. : Mehboobnagar SEZ is nearly 100 kilometer from Hyderabad city and it takes about 2 hour by car to reach the site.
humanhorizons said
Maharashtra dithers over SEZ referendum results
Makrand Gadgil / Mumbai January 3, 2009, 0:21 IST
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/maharashtra-dithers-over-sez-referendum-results/00/26/345083/
Three months have passed, but the Maharashtra government has not been able to finalise its report on the results of the September 22 referendum it had organised in 22 villages of Raigad district that form part of the 10,000-hectare Mumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) developed by Jai Corp, a company promoted by Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s close associate Anand Jain. The state revenue department is pointing fingers at the irrigation department for the delay. The irrigation department claims it has submitted the inputs required to finalise the report.
Meanwhile, the future of thousands of farmers and Jai Corp, which has invested around Rs 600 crore mostly to acquire land, hangs in the balance. Jai Corp has acquired around 1,500 hectares.
The notice period given to farmers under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act lapses on August 6 and the “in-principle” approval from the central government’s SEZ approval boards lapses in June. Around 3,000 hectares of land from these 22 villages has been notified for land acquisition.
A senior state government official said the decision is being delayed because the state government is in a bind. Any decision will adversely impact either the farmers — which is considered politically risky in an election year — or the interests of a powerful industrial house like Reliance.
The crux of the problem is that the central government’s SEZ policy of 2007 bars irrigated land from being acquired for SEZs after which activists pressed for 22 villages, which fall under the command area of the Hetavane dam in the Raigad district, to be deleted from the purview of the SEZ. The state government decided to hold a referendum as a result of this protest.
J P Dange, secretary of the state’s revenue and forest department, explained: “Before we finalise our report, we would like to know how many farmers are actually going to get the benefit of irrigation. And the irrigation department has told us it will take time if they have to give a report on every farmer.”
A senior officer from the irrigation department said out of 145 thousand million cubic meters (TMC) of water available in the dam, only 30 TMC is reserved for irrigation; the rest is for drinking water and industrial purposes. This 30 TMC, he added, is available for 52 villages and not just the 22 villages in the SEZ. “Our report highlighting all these facts was submitted to the state government long ago,” he said.
The real issue, he added, is deciding, how priority of the water in the dam should be fixed. The issue is whether the state government is ready to give priority to irrigation over industry.
Maharashtra’s water resources policy clearly gives priority to industrial purposes over irrigation, the official said.
Meanwhile, Ulka Mahajan, convener of the anti-globalisation forum that was at the forefront of the anti-SEZ agitation, insists that the referendum is “overwhelmingly against the SEZ”.