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 “10^th 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 12^th 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. The 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 5^th 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