Recently, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has submitted a secret report to the PMO and Home Ministry citing an international conspiracy not to let India’s biggest FDI project Posco proceed by promoting and funding anti-project stir in the locality.
The IB has mentioned names of international NGOs such as london-based Amnesty International, ActionAid and Survival International for creating hindrances against the Posco project by funding the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS).
The `52,000 crore project can give a big push to the development of the State and provide jobs to scores of people. But since there is a conspiracy not to allow the State to grow, the project has been getting delayed with several bottlenecks for last nine years.The Indian history is replete with instances of how foreigners have invaded the country and managed to win by way of playing a divide and rule policy. So traitors are always in the scene, who are ready to offer their service just for a minuscule allurement.
Since last nine years the people of Paradip coast are misled by the NGOs and self-styled social activists of the State.These people have no idea about the ecology, soil and economic climate of the region but they have been talking a lot about the loss of environment and livelihood of the people if the Posco is set up. The writer is a native of the region and was born and brought up here.The people of the region are generally very poor, who do not have capacity of earning a dignified life. The people depend on fishing, agriculture, betel farming, horticulture and manual labour.
They have no means of sustainable living as they have little or no acreage of cultivable land. Most of them are surviving on encroachment of Government land or forest land. From generation to generation, they are mostly poverty-stricken. However, their economic position has improved a bit these days. But projects like Posco can go a long way in improving the local economy and giving people the opportunity to earn handsomely.
The writer quite remembers when Paradip port was going to be established during the sixties, there was a wave of protest against it. Even a few politicians were opposing the move. But late Biju Patnaik did not pay heed to the protest and went ahead with it with a steely resolve. This led to establishment of the port. Now, the port stands as a symbol of prosperity and growth not just for the region but for the whole State.
Similarly, the mega steel plant Posco and the IOCl refinery are facing several hardships. But once these projects take off, they would bring immense benefit to the whole State. Once, the Bay of Bengal near here was having very rich estuarine eco-systems with rich biodiversities.
There were very rich palm forests within the coastal tracks, which were providing rich habitats to various creatures. Every day plenty of fishes were harvested and both wet and dry fishes were marketed within the local markets.The main business of the people of the region is to harvest fishes from sea, river, and river mouths, including fishes from local ponds and swamps other than harvesting fishes from local sources.
The local people used to undertake dairy of small and medium sizes. The cattle like buffaloes and cows of local varieties were reared and every day a lot of milk was produced and sold within the local market. The people used to have handsome income from paddy and betel. The area had a self sustainable economy.
However, those days have gone. The people are being constantly misled by politicians and self–styled social activists. The harmonious and peaceful living of the people is now a thing of the past due to polarization of opinion against the project and tussle and movement against the steel plant.
When Paradip port project was facing protests, the people used to undertake prawn cultivation on a vast patch of land. The prawn culturists, politicians, bureaucrats and moneyed people had converted vast lands of estuaries into prawn ponds for their self benefits making the administration helpless. There was no land for pasture for the cattle of the region.
The people opposed the project on the premises of loss of livelihood. But the Government pursued the project with single-mindedness and in the end the project took off. In Posco case, the Government too needs to be very resolute and firm and go ahead with the project keeping in mind its economic potential.
Thus, it is now pertinent to punish the conspirators and traitors. The assets and sources of incomes of the anti-Posco activists should be investigated and action should be taken against them.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)