The land acquisition process for public use/other purposes invariably causes distress in affected families, because of displacement &the loss of the primary sources of livelihood of fishermen & tribal communities in particular, having traditional rights on Natural Resources of Sea & Forests.
No amount of compensation can offer solace and relief from distress caused by the loss of their age old habitations and livelihoods. In the case of land acquisition for Nuclear Power Plants, the threat from likely nuclear radiation, which became the public knowledge after Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP disaster, persists among the people in the surrounding areas.
Land Acquisition Bill No.77 of 2011
With a view to minimize the disturbance & trauma to the owners of the land and other affected families, the Govt of India introduced the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill No.77 of 2011, for ensuring a Humane, Participatory, Informed Consultative & Transparent process for land acquisition for public purposes.
As per the Bill, the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Study of the families likely to be affected by the land acquisition is to be undertaken in consultation with Grama Sabhas at habitation level. The SIA Study report is to be published after having a Public Hearing in the affected areas. It stipulates the consent of at least 80% of affected families, before land acquisition is initiated.
G.O.Ms.No 42 of 1 st November 2012
But unfortunately AP Govt. ignored the basic principles of Land Acquisition, R&R Bill No.77 of 2011- Humane, Participatory, Informed Consultative & Transparent Process- and unilaterally declared and notified the "project-affected" villages based on R&R Policy of 2005 Accordingly G.O.Ms.No 42 dated 01-11-2012 was issued, authorizing District Collector, for acquisition of the land required for Kovvada NPP of NPCIL, in Ranasthalam Mandal of Srikakulam district.
Land Acquisition before Environmental Clearance (EC)?
The Punjab and Haryana High Court, on Wednesday, 31 st October 2012, is reported to have not allowed the Punjab Government, the auction of a mining site without proper Environmental Clearance.
Therefore G.O.Ms.No 42 dated 01-11-2012 authorizing the District Collector to acquire the land required for Kovvada NPP of NPCIL, before the project is accorded Environmental Clearance by MOEF, is not only irregular and objectionable and also amounts to be immoral and inhumane, making the entire process of Environmental Clearance, a ritual and a mockery.
People of Kovvada do not Count?
The five "project affected" villages & hamlets (Exclusive Zone) notified in the G.O, have 1983 house holds with population of 7,960 as per 2011 census. These people mostly depending on fishing for their livelihood will be uprooted and rehabilitated elsewhere.
Around 40 villages/hamlets are covered by the Sterilized Zone (1..5 Km to 5.0 Km) having about 6,000 households with population of 30,000. The private land in the zone is to the extent of 11,600 acres, predominantly with intensive agricultural activities.
These 6,000 households with the population of about 30,000, in the close vicinity of the proposed Nuclear Power Park, will be worse affected, as they are likely to be exposed to radioactive gases routinely released by 6 Reactors, with a capacity 1000 MWe each, for the next 30 to 40 years of their operation. Their agricultural produce is likely to be contaminated by radiation and no new activity is permitted in this zone.
Appeal
In the light of the position explained above and taking into account the serious public opposition to the proposed NPP of NPCIL at Jaitapur in Maharashtra even after MOEF accorded Environmental Clearance, the prolonged and stiff public opposition being faced by NPCIL NPP at Koodankulam in Tamilnadu, which is yet to be commissioned even after 20 years and having compassion for the fellow human beings of Kovvada, the proposed land acquisition should be kept in abeyance.
The following need to be complied with, before Land Acquisition for Kovvada NPP can be initiated:
a) Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Study of the families likely to be affected by the land acquisition, be undertaken in consultation with Grama Sabhas at habitation level and the consent of at least 80% of affected families be obtained, before land acquisition is initiated as stipulated in the Bill No.77 of 2011.
b) NPCIL be asked to comply with preparation of Site Evaluation Report (SER), Safety Analysis Report (SER) and Emergency Preparedness Plan ( EPP), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report Environmental Public Hearing (EPH) etc. for the project site.
c) Environmental Clearance by MOEF based on the findings of EPH and other environmental considerations such as Sustainability, Precautionary Principle etc.
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