AJODHYA CRYING
A fact finding on Turga Pumped
Storage Project of Ajodhya Hills which is violating The Forest Rights Act.
2006
Organized by:
AMALA FARM, KOLKATA, INDIA
Members
of the Fact Finding Team
Saradindu Biswas
Laksmikanta Hansda
Sumit Chowdhury
Paresh Debnath
Uddipan Biswas
Introduction
“ It is our
hills, our forest. This land is discovered by our ancestors. We worship these
hills as our ancestors like MARANG BURU, GURGA BURU. Our leader like TILKA
MAJHI, SIDHU-KANU and BIRSA fought for keeping thei hills eco-sustainable. We
have been fighting for that. We fought and we won. Turga Pumped Storage Project (TPSP) which is completely violating
the Fundamental Rights of the forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act. 2006”. Nakul Baske one of the activist of the
“Ajodhya Buru Bachao Andolan Samhati Mancha” described us during our Fact Finding. He said,
though the villagers secured a legal victory against
West Bengal Government but
still the authority has been continuing their work. West Bengal Government has
been threatening the forest villagers to leave their village. In the name of
beautification and tourism the hills are destroying by dynamite. Big and wide
roads are building by cutting of huge trees and medicinal plants. Some roads
have been building inside the hills by making of long tunnels. Hilly lands are
giving to the multinational companies for digging of minerals.
Supen Hembram a teacher of Chhatni villge told us that, West Bengal Government
led
by Left Front started the
Purulia
Pumped Storage Project (PPSP) following the “10th Five Years Plan (April 2002-March
2007) . They completed the upper dam and lower dam by submerging of tribal
villages and destroying of huge flora and fauna.
West Bengal Governments also claimed that these “two Rock fill dams (Upper and Lower
Dam) with central clay core for upper and lower reservoirs with a live storage
of 13 million cum each, twin water conductor, an underground power house (157 m
long, 22.5 m width, 48.7 m height) to accommodate four reversible pump turbines
(vertical Francis, rated head 177m, maximum power discharge : 150 cum/sec) of
225 MW each, an underground transformer (280MVA of Four nos. 16.5kv/400kv)
cavern (119 m long, 17 m width, 17 m height), an access tunnel to power house
and 400 KV gas insulated substation linked through a cable tunnel. Two 400 KV
double circuit transmission lines connecting Durgapur Sub-station and Arambagh
Sub-station with the project has been developed to transmit and receive power”.
To meet the shortfall of electric supply West Bengal State
Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) further plan for
develop another 1000 MW Pumped Storage Power
Project at Ayodhya hills under Baghmundi Block in Purulia District
Following the footsteps of previous
government the present TMC government also decided to establish two more such
plants will be set up at Ajodhya Hills namely TURGA and BONDU project by the
end of the 12th Five Years Plan for 1,000MW hydro power generation. The
State Planning Board, Govt. of WB has accorded the final approval with Japan
International Cooperation Agency(JICA) and it got cabinet approval from West
Bengal Government on 08.05.2017.
Turga Pumped Storage Project (TPSP)
According to West Bengal
State Electricity Distribution Company Limited the
Turga Pumped Storage Project envisages utilization of rainfall in the
catchment of the Turga Nala in Ayodhya hills for peak power generation for a
Pumped Storage type project development. The project visualized construction of
Upper Dam (C.A. 8.29 Sq. Km) across Turga Nala, a tributary of Subarnarekha
river and a water conductor system with an underground Power House on the
downstream of Upper Dam and a Lower Dam having intermediate catchment of 4.37
sq. km (total C.A. 12.66 sq. km). It has decided to take over around 294 hectares of forest land. The
construction of TURGA Project would have caused the destruction of small hills,
cutting of lacks of trees and medicinal plants. And it will be completely
submerged 10 forest villages where AMALA FARM has been starting works namely:
1)
Bare Lahar
2) Ranga
3) Hatinada
4) Bhuighora
5) Saldi
6) Kurpahar
7) Tadpani
8) Bansare
9) Baroa Jhora and
10) Litasitad
Towards a Great
Resistance
Handover of 294 hectares of forest
land to the
Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) for Turga
Pumped Storage Project (TPSP) of Ajodhya Hills came to know the villagers
of Bare Lahar when the workers of TPSP was surveying land and cutting the trees
inside the forest. The members of Forest Protection Committee of Bare Lahar
village caught them and called the responsible West Bengal Government officials
for making understand the fact. The incident made the tribals assemble in Bare
Lahar village. Adibasi leaders came to join this meeting. The West Bengal
Government officials announced that 294 hectares of forest land to be handed
over to the JICA for Turga Pumped Storage Project (TPSP) soon. More than three
lacks trees will be cut down for the project. Huge tunnels and Two dams are
planned to be made here. It will be submerged 10 villages. The survey work has
been started for that.
The announcement of the government officials made the tribals angry and forms a
People’s Organization namely
“Ajodhya
Buru Bachao Andolan Samhati Mancha” . The villagers who would be affected
filed a write petition last year and The Calcutta high court on July 2, 2019
ruled that the process the state adopted to acquire the land for the 1000 MW
Turga Pumped Storage Project (TPSP) violated the Forest Rights Act 2006.
Violation of Forest Rights Act. 2006:
Some
special rights and duties are given to the forest dwelling Tribals and other
traditional forest dwellers on all forest lands in CHAPTER II and III of Forest
Rights Act. 2006. T
he 1000MW Turga
Pumped Storage Project (TSPS) seriously violated the Act.
As
per the 2011 Census of India Bagmundi CD Block had a total population of 135,579, all of which were rural.
There were 69,520 (51%) males and 66,059 (49%) females. Population below 6
years was 21,992.Scheduled Caste population are 14,042 (10.36%) and Scheduled
Tribes population are 34,038 (25.11%). Most of the villages are situated in the
hills and forest area.
Here is the list of towns and villages in
Bagmundi Block of Puruliya district, West Bengal.
|
Villages
|
Administrative Division
|
Population
|
|
1
|
Ajodhya
|
Bagmundi
|
1,648
|
|
2
|
Alkusi
|
Bagmundi
|
67
|
|
3
|
Andhra Alias Hathinada
|
Bagmundi
|
724
|
|
4
|
Atna
|
Bagmundi
|
1,751
|
|
5
|
Babnijara
|
Bagmundi
|
81
|
|
6
|
Baghmundi
|
Bagmundi
|
4,035
|
|
7
|
Bagti
|
Bagmundi
|
924
|
|
8
|
Bandhdi
|
Bagmundi
|
885
|
|
9
|
Bandudi
|
Bagmundi
|
909
|
|
10
|
Banshidi
|
Bagmundi
|
63
|
|
11
|
Baredi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,056
|
|
12
|
Barria
|
Bagmundi
|
3,982
|
|
13
|
Barudi
|
Bagmundi
|
767
|
|
14
|
Basudi
|
Bagmundi
|
352
|
|
15
|
Bhitpani
|
Bagmundi
|
240
|
|
16
|
Bhunighra
|
Bagmundi
|
505
|
|
17
|
Bhursu
|
Bagmundi
|
3,096
|
|
18
|
Bhursudi
|
Bagmundi
|
12
|
|
19
|
Biddiri
|
Bagmundi
|
2,110
|
|
20
|
Birgram
|
Bagmundi
|
3,722
|
|
21
|
Bongada
|
Bagmundi
|
226
|
|
22
|
Burda
|
Bagmundi
|
5,159
|
|
23
|
Burudi
|
Bagmundi
|
572
|
|
24
|
Chalua
|
Bagmundi
|
214
|
|
25
|
Chano
|
Bagmundi
|
298
|
|
26
|
Charkapathar
|
Bagmundi
|
88
|
|
27
|
Chaunia
|
Bagmundi
|
158
|
|
28
|
Chhatni
|
Bagmundi
|
823
|
|
29
|
Chhatrajara
|
Bagmundi
|
133
|
|
30
|
Chirugora Alias Chirudi
|
Bagmundi
|
795
|
|
31
|
Chorda
|
Bagmundi
|
2,568
|
|
32
|
Churki
|
Bagmundi
|
319
|
|
33
|
Dabha
|
Bagmundi
|
906
|
|
34
|
Deuli
|
Bagmundi
|
1,908
|
|
35
|
Dhanudi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,902
|
|
36
|
Dhaska
|
Bagmundi
|
510
|
|
37
|
Dhekia
|
Bagmundi
|
1,897
|
|
38
|
Dhundhikhap
|
Bagmundi
|
304
|
|
39
|
Digardi
|
Bagmundi
|
278
|
|
40
|
Dugdha
|
Bagmundi
|
831
|
|
41
|
Dulmi
|
Bagmundi
|
245
|
|
42
|
Dungridi
|
Bagmundi
|
194
|
|
43
|
Edelbera Alias Simulbera
|
Bagmundi
|
312
|
|
44
|
Ekra
|
Bagmundi
|
1,575
|
|
45
|
Gagi
|
Bagmundi
|
2,441
|
|
46
|
Gandhudi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,295
|
|
47
|
Garur Jhama
|
Bagmundi
|
152
|
|
48
|
Ghaghra
|
Bagmundi
|
126
|
|
49
|
Ghorabandha
|
Bagmundi
|
3,274
|
|
50
|
Gobaria
|
Bagmundi
|
9
|
|
51
|
Gobindadi
|
Bagmundi
|
487
|
|
52
|
Gobindapur
|
Bagmundi
|
3,064
|
|
53
|
Gorait Sakra
|
Bagmundi
|
426
|
|
54
|
Gosaidi
|
Bagmundi
|
183
|
|
55
|
Haridi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,024
|
|
56
|
Harta
|
Bagmundi
|
83
|
|
57
|
Harup
|
Bagmundi
|
81
|
|
58
|
Hesadi
|
Bagmundi
|
729
|
|
59
|
Hurumda
|
Bagmundi
|
2,406
|
|
60
|
Jhabri
|
Bagmundi
|
477
|
|
61
|
Jilling
|
Bagmundi
|
1,015
|
|
62
|
Kalha
|
Bagmundi
|
422
|
|
63
|
Kalijharna
|
Bagmundi
|
68
|
|
64
|
Kalimati
|
Bagmundi
|
1,961
|
|
65
|
Kanrda
|
Bagmundi
|
244
|
|
66
|
Karihensa
|
Bagmundi
|
433
|
|
67
|
Karru
|
Bagmundi
|
2,588
|
|
68
|
Khirabera
|
Bagmundi
|
442
|
|
69
|
Khudidi
|
Bagmundi
|
337
|
|
70
|
Koreng
|
Bagmundi
|
1,407
|
|
71
|
Kuchi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,003
|
|
72
|
Kuchrirakha
|
Bagmundi
|
237
|
|
73
|
Kudlung
|
Bagmundi
|
889
|
|
74
|
Kudna
|
Bagmundi
|
1,137
|
|
75
|
Kurupahar
|
Bagmundi
|
113
|
|
76
|
Kushaldi
|
Bagmundi
|
2,074
|
|
77
|
Kushumtikri
|
Bagmundi
|
132
|
|
78
|
Lahadungri
|
Bagmundi
|
115
|
|
79
|
Lawakui
|
Bagmundi
|
177
|
|
80
|
Madhupur
|
Bagmundi
|
235
|
|
81
|
Madla
|
Bagmundi
|
3,070
|
|
82
|
Marcha
|
Bagmundi
|
2,002
|
|
83
|
Matha
|
Bagmundi
|
624
|
|
84
|
Matiala
|
Bagmundi
|
180
|
|
85
|
Maunia
|
Bagmundi
|
493
|
|
86
|
Mukurub
|
Bagmundi
|
541
|
|
87
|
Munibera
|
Bagmundi
|
282
|
|
88
|
Nishchintpur
|
Bagmundi
|
471
|
|
89
|
Pagrodi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,574
|
|
90
|
Panra
|
Bagmundi
|
1,000
|
|
91
|
Paramtikar
|
Bagmundi
|
871
|
|
92
|
Pardi
|
Bagmundi
|
683
|
|
93
|
Parsa
|
Bagmundi
|
1,614
|
|
94
|
Patahesal
|
Bagmundi
|
1,499
|
|
95
|
Patardi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,609
|
|
96
|
Peretorang
|
Bagmundi
|
660
|
|
97
|
Pirargaria
|
Bagmundi
|
716
|
|
98
|
Pitidiri
|
Bagmundi
|
567
|
|
99
|
Pratappur
|
Bagmundi
|
629
|
|
100
|
Punia Shasan
|
Bagmundi
|
430
|
|
101
|
Rabar
|
Bagmundi
|
35
|
|
102
|
Ramdi
|
Bagmundi
|
288
|
|
103
|
Ranga
|
Bagmundi
|
726
|
|
104
|
Rangamati
|
Bagmundi
|
597
|
|
105
|
Raydi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,874
|
|
106
|
Relakurra
|
Bagmundi
|
828
|
|
107
|
Saharjuri
|
Bagmundi
|
1,038
|
|
108
|
Saldabar
|
Bagmundi
|
689
|
|
109
|
Saldi
|
Bagmundi
|
78
|
|
110
|
Sankupi
|
Bagmundi
|
2,569
|
|
111
|
Sarakdi
|
Bagmundi
|
842
|
|
112
|
Saramchaki
|
Bagmundi
|
117
|
|
113
|
Saridi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,491
|
|
114
|
Sarjamhatu
|
Bagmundi
|
494
|
|
115
|
Sarmali
|
Bagmundi
|
536
|
|
116
|
Serengdi
|
Bagmundi
|
305
|
|
117
|
Serengdi
|
Bagmundi
|
444
|
|
118
|
Shilingda
|
Bagmundi
|
369
|
|
119
|
Shrabandi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,091
|
|
120
|
Simali
|
Bagmundi
|
1,186
|
|
121
|
Sindri
|
Bagmundi
|
4,138
|
|
122
|
Sirkadi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,519
|
|
123
|
Sonahara
|
Bagmundi
|
252
|
|
124
|
Sopa
|
Bagmundi
|
1,674
|
|
125
|
Sosokhas
|
Bagmundi
|
1,820
|
|
126
|
Srirampur
|
Bagmundi
|
164
|
|
127
|
Suisa
|
Bagmundi
|
2,649
|
|
128
|
Sukridobha
|
Bagmundi
|
68
|
|
129
|
Susnidi
|
Bagmundi
|
127
|
|
130
|
Tantan
|
Bagmundi
|
451
|
|
131
|
Tarang
|
Bagmundi
|
1,597
|
|
132
|
Telia Bhasa
|
Bagmundi
|
367
|
|
133
|
Tikartanr
|
Bagmundi
|
275
|
|
134
|
Tiruldi
|
Bagmundi
|
1,153
|
|
135
|
Tunturi
|
Bagmundi
|
2,037
|
|
136
|
Ukada
|
Bagmundi
|
875
|
|
137
|
Ushuldunri
|
Bagmundi
|
467
|
|
138
|
Uttamdi Alias Rengtudi
|
Bagmundi
|
404
|
Ajodhya Village Population
|
Census Parameter
|
Census Data
|
|
Total Population
|
1648
|
|
Total No of Houses
|
327
|
|
Female Population %
|
46.0 % ( 758)
|
|
Total Literacy rate %
|
41.6 % ( 686)
|
|
Female Literacy rate
|
11.9 % ( 196)
|
|
Scheduled Tribes Population %
|
75.1 % ( 1237)
|
|
Scheduled Caste Population %
|
10.9 % ( 179)
|
|
Working Population %
|
46.8 %
|
|
Child(0 -6) Population by 2011
|
296
|
|
Girl Child(0 -6) Population % by
2011
|
50.3 % ( 149)
|
We have
organized focus group discussion to the villages would be submerged for the
TPSP project.
Kaliram Tudu
one of the member of Forest Protection Committee of Bare Lahar village said
that, the West Bengal Government neither called a meeting nor organize a GRAM
SAVA before handed over the forest land to the TSPS. It is completely a serious
violation of FRA 2006.
We have
noticed some serious violation of FRA 2006 follows:
·
According to FRA 2006, GRAM SAVA plays a vital
role for making any decision to handover forest land. If any new establishment
needed to be acquired forest land, then at least 50 per cent of the population
dependent on the land has to give consent in GRAM SAVA. The forest land might
have handed over if one third of village women give their consent for the new
establishment. West Bengal Government did not organize any single GRAM SAVA
meeting.
·
Subhas Hansda of Ranga village said that, the
project will drown many herbal plants are grown in these hills. Most of the
tribal families involve with animal husbandry. Animal need field for rearing. It
will destroy our land and life. It also evict more than 10.000 people from our
traditional abode said Subhas.
·
The destruction of a hillock called
Marangburu will be a very sensitive issue for the Tribals. Tribal people
worship MARANGBURU as their ancestor. The Ajodhya hill too has a “pious” SUTANTANDI
area, considers their Social Court. So the TSPS project not only evicts us but
destroys our faith and culture said Nakul Baske a leader of “Ajodhya Buru Bachao Andolan Samhati
Mancha”.
West Bengal Government further appeals in the division bench
for continue of TSPS Project:
Rabi besra, Sushil, Murmu and Maniram Saren told that, the
West Bengal Government has appealed in division bench last week. We have signed
two VAKALATNAMA for the case guided by Santanu Chakraborty. We need more
support to the Human Rights Organizations.
Some
forest dwellers told us that, “Our villagers are very worried about this new
situation. We are trying to understand the villagers not to vend their rights
at any cost. We know government will try to brainwash us, threaten us for
vacating the villages. But we are not going anywhere. Our forefather protected
these hills. We have born and brought up with these natural resources. We will
protect our BONGAS (sprits). We will protect our JAHER THAN( sacred place). We
will protect our trees, bushes and herbs. They have destroying our hills with
dynamite. They are stealing minerals and stones. Tribal areas have been turning
into Tourist Spot. All the planning are going against the tribals. If the West
Bengal Government makes us bound to fight, we will fight. If we have to accept
death, we will die here.
NRC
another Measurement of Exclusion:
Nakul Baske
said that, the fear of NRC and Detention Camp gradually has been spreading to
the forest villagers. The exclusion of more than 2lacks tribals from the final
list of Assam NRC has astonished them! “SARI GE, SARI GE? (is it true?) the
women participant of our focus group discussion cried out when Laksmikanta
Hansda described the situation of Assam NRC in Santali language.
He said more than hundred people have died in
Assam for failing collection of papers. More than 19.6 lacks peoples are
excluded from final list of NRC. 6 Detention Camp have built for the excluded
people.
Manturam Hembram of Ranga village said that, Bare Lahar and Ranga village have
85 households. All have applied for the PATTA during 2007-2008. Only 20
households have gotten PATTA. Other
households don’t have any papers of the land with them. Where the tribal people
get the papers?
BURNING FOREST !
Multiple
forests across hills in Ajodhya were up in fire flames from 5th
March, 2021. This “man-made” fire burned down thousands of trees, medicinal
plants and wildlife. It impacts on the
environment and ecological balance in this region.
We have received information from our activist Supen Hembrom of Ajodhya Village
that they found flames in the southern part of Baghmundi, Ajodhya and Matha
hill. The Forest Department is not so active for controlling the fire. The
local people and activists took initiatives to restrain fire.
Initiatives to be taken: Gram Sava
(village parliament) to be formed in every Panchayat.
Village Committee, Forest Protection Committee to be formed.
Domestication of animal programme to be taken
Natural Resources Management.
Organic Farming
Development of Seed Bank
Promotion of
micro finance for self empowerment.
Promotion of Eco-tourism
Promotion of Tribal Culture and wisdom
Establishment of Training Center
Establishment of Community Kitchen and Tribal Market
Establishment of BIPASANA CENTERS for retreat and self realization
