The regular Ameliya Gram Sabha held on Independence Day through a majority vote has barred foreign NGOs like Greenpeace and other outsiders from entering the village without notifying the Gram Panchayat. This measure was necessitated to ensure that outsiders do not mislead or influence the villagers who have been called on to vote for compensation regarding the Mahan coal block project.
The foreign funded NGO Greenpeace has mounted a severe misinformation campaign to stall the Mahan Coal project which has received all Government clearances to start mining operations and awaiting only the final grant of mining lease by the State Govt. for which the Centre has already granted its prior approval under the MMDR Act.
With over 300 members present and voting, the Ameliya Gram Sabha discussed the various measures by which villagers would get the maximum compensation under the Forest Rights Act besides other social benefits like a new school, hospital and better connectivity to the outside world.
Greenpeace’s effort to include over 50 unaffected villages for compensation will jeopardise the compensation claims of the genuinely affected villagers from Ameliya, Suggo and Budher.
Santosh Singh, Sarpanch of Ameliya village said, “We held the Gram Sabha as a regular event and one of the key decisions that was passed with a majority vote was to restrict foreign NGO’s and outsiders in the village without the panchayat’s permission. The villagers who have lived in harmony with the jungles for years are capable of taking decisions in their own interest that are for their benefits. We don’t need outsiders to create a rift by propagating myth and lies. The villagers want peace and progress. We support development and want to ensure that it happens in conjugation with environmental protection. We will fight for our rights and along with development to ensure maximum benefits for our villagers.”