Lokashakti Abhiyan president and noted environmental activist Prafulla Samantara on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to oppose the Union Government’s “unilateral” and “undemocratic” decision to hand over 41 coal blocks to private corporate, including foreign investors.
Addressing a Press meet, Samantara alleged that the decision to have auction for private companies would take the power of the States. Meanwhile, out of five coal bearing States, three Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra have protested and wrote letters of objections to the Union Minister of Forests, Environment and Climate change. The Jharkhand Government, taking one step forward, has approached the Supreme Court for cancellation of the decision.
In Odisha, more than 10,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land for nine coal blocks in Anugul and Jharsuguda districts would be destroyed and more than 10,000 families displaced. Besides, there would be intensive pollution in Talcher- Angul area, which has been declared the most pollutant region for the three decades. The Brahmani river would be more polluted and dried.
As per the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015, the decision of allowing more coal mining for new thermal power plants is a violation of agreement. The Central and the State Governments have to strive for green energy with investments in solar and wind projects, he suggested.
If the State Government fails to oppose the Central decision, the people’s resistance is inevitable, said Samantara.
He said the decision violates the Forest Rights Act 2006, PESA 1996and the Land Acquisition Act 2013. In the listed 41 local coal block areas, there are scheduled areas where tribal communities have right to decide mining in their area through Gram Shabhas as per the direction of the Supreme Court in NiyamGiri case in 2013, he reminded.
“Therefore I urge the Central Government to withdraw such unlawful decision. I also urge all political parties, including the BJD and the BJP, to oppose privatisation of coal blocks for corporates at the cost of the State’s natural capital,” said Samantara.
Senior journalist Rabi Das was present.