Balangir: Easy Prey to Devils

Recently on 8th July, 2010, I visited village Nirmula (GP Digsira, Tahasil Titlagarh) around 105 km away from district headquarter; one conflict was taken place there among villagers and ARSS company people, who are engaged in constructing Titlagarh Bhawanipatna part of NH and made a quarry on the hill near the village and blasting the hill.

Apart from the tension created by the conflict and Police action on villagers, I noticed that location of the Hill where the blasting is going on is very close to the village; it is even less than one kilometer. It is much surprising that a place which is so near to a populous village (3 wards) is allowed to quarry stones!

I also found that the UP school is located at the face of village, teachers told that it is affected by the blasting, small children students feel very scared of the sound and the polluted dust. some cracks are visible on the walls of the school..

Villagers showed me their houses, the walls are all cracked due to blast. They also told that during blast the floors shake and stinking dust fills the air. It may be a danger for the health of people, especially children.

Also during the blast street is blocked, thus villagers also forced to stay inside. This may cause any humanitarian problem anytime.

The village is at foothill, villagers are not able to release their livestock also for grazing there.

At least 40 people have agricultural land at foothill; it is understandable that after the project ends in multiple years, condition of the land will not be suitable for cultivation. It is most unfortunate that the permanent even irrecoverable lose of the land is not taken into consideration while quarry work is allowed here. Livelihood of the people who are depending on this land as a tradition will be surely going to be affected in near future.

It is much clear that Environmental, Heath Impact of this project is much negative and of high risk. Also Economic and Humanitarian factor is also not satisfactory. But such Projects are easily permitted in Balangir. While Government shows much concerns over poverty of this 'undeveloped' place and rains programmes and fund for 'people' here, actually poor needy villagers are still taken for a ride and exploited vehemently. The attitude of 'big fish eats the smaller one' is playing here always. Who cares for Democracy and Human Rights here?

In my interaction with villagers also I came to know that, following the conflict between ARSS and villagers on 25th June, 2010, Police thronged the village at night and picked up 6 people. Police came and beat the door and picked up men, they even misbehaved with women. Company people verbally abused and threatened the villagers saying that they will overpower all the men and ‘abuse’ all women. Following this many men left the village in fear.

One woman complained that Police by force picked up his husband, who was ill and had diarrhea and was not at all involved in clash with anyone. Location of her house --- very close to the Prahari Mandap, verifies the fact further that Police may have picked the person available near at hand.

This type of Police action and violation of Human Rights is much common in Balangir. Media cried for few days, but no action is taken till date.
We have written to DM for appropriate actions, I request you to stand beside Balangir and pressurize Government to stop such expoitation and stop quarry at Nirmula.