Mahan Vikas Manch (MVM), a pro-development NGO, has condemned the efforts of “anti-development NGOs” Greenpeace and Mahan Sangharsh Samiti (MSS) to prevent the tree counting exercise in Mahan forest undertaken by the MP state forest department.
The tree census is being done under the instructions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The MVM has pointed out that disrupting the tree count under the garb of social activism amounts to contempt of the court since the Tribunal is mandated by the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals at the earliest.
With Greenpeace losing support among the local villagers because of its anti-development stance, the foreign NGO has started using a small band of paid women “activists”, mostly outsiders, to harass the forest officials. The local villagers have realized that by misbehaving with forest officials the activists and delaying the count.
MVM President Prahlad Panika said, “We strongly condemn the anti-development efforts of Greenpeace under the banner of MSS to delay the project. We request the district administration to take strong action against these outsiders who are misguiding simple villagers and delaying the project. Obstructing the work amounts to contempt of court.
This utter disregard for the judiciary should attract contempt proceedings to ensure that such blatant acts are not disguised in the garb of genuine village protests.”
Following a complaint from the Forest Department, the Singrauli police on May 8 arrested two members of Greenpeace and two members from MSS for allegedly trying to stop forest officials from conducting the survey of the trees. According to FIR, the so-called activists snatched the equipment, which was being used to conduct the tree census.
MVM has demanded a significant hike in compensation for Forest Rights so that the affected villagers get a higher monetary benefit. With the full support of the villagers of Ameliya, Budher and Suggu for sustainable development, MVM will continue to fight for the rights of the villagers and oppose the anti-national and anti-development activities of foreign funded NGOs like Greenpeace and their local surrogates.