Mahan Sangharsh Samiti (MSS) supported by prominent members of other social movements urged the State Government to end the systematic clampdown on the movement against Essar and Hindalco’s proposed coal mine in Mahan forests in Singrauli.
MSS activists while talking to mediapersons here on Tuesday emphasised that a Gram Sabha or any other democratic process cannot be held in such a repressive atmosphere.
The activists also demanded that the Chief Minister should take immediate steps to revoke Essar’s licence to mine and plunder the pristine forests in Mahan. The license has been granted trampling over the rights of over 50,000 forest dwellers from over 50 villages that are dependent on the forests of Mahan for their livelihood. MSS demanded that the State Government should take immediate steps to ensure that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) is implemented in all these villages.
Hardayal Singh Gond, resident of Amelia village and member of MSS said, “We have to battle police atrocities and administrative hurdles to preserve our forests – something that has been ours for several generations. Now we are told to collect compensation for what the forest has been providing us. But nothing can compensate what the forest provides us. The State Government has to ensure that our rights are granted. The State machinery cannot become a tool in the hands of corporate giants.”
Gond along with other members of MSS has been boycotting all compensation camps.
The proposed coal mine is bound to destroy the livelihoods of more than 50,000 villagers from over 54 villages. “The rights of all the 54 villages must first be recognised and people have to be informed about the project in their native language. All 54 villages should have a say on whether they want a mine in the forests or not. But as of now, no community forest rights (CFR) have been recognised in these villages,” said Gond.