Former Minister and senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik on Wednesday slammed the State Government for getting the State’s industrialisation script “completely wrong”.
In a statement, he alleged that the State Government entered into various MoUs without thinking and has created a mess that would affect the long-term economic interests of the State and the nation.
Patnaik said, “While planning the projects all aspects including regulatory requirements under the environmental law, Forest Rights Act, etc., should have been carefully examined. After creating a complete mess, the State Government is now trying to find out ways of raw materials linkage. Why was this not done before the signing of MoUsIJ”
From the beginning, the opposition of the Dongria Kondhs to mining Niyamgiri was well-known. For a State rich with bauxite deposits, the Government had many possible alternatives. Instead of following the law, it was adamant in limiting the Gram Sabhas to 12 villages rather than about 120 villages with the hope of managing a favourable result,” Patnaik said.
In a letter to Governor SC Jamir, Patnaik has said the State Government is advancing a “spurious legal argument” in limiting the Gram Sabhas to 12. “I do not understand why the State Government is so adamant in denying rights of these poor Adivasis and going against the letter and spirit of the law. In whose interest is it being done,” Patnaik wondered.
As Raygada and Kalahandi are Schedule V districts, the Governor has special powers in respect of the administration of the two districts which he should exercise to protect rights of the Adivasis under the Forest Rights Act,” Patnaik said.