Friday, July 31, 2009

President asked to preserve Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve forest-Deshonatti Reports.


President asked to preserve Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve forest-

President asked to preserve Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve forest

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3801024-president-asked-to-preserve-tadobaandhari-tiger-reserve-forest

The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) has drawn the attention of the President Pratibha Patil for urgent intervention in the very serious issue of the colossal damage that the Adani mines would cause in the vicinity of the famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). A whopping 1,600 hectares of the land allocated to the private company supports rich forest from which over 12 lakh full grown trees will be cut down for the mining work,

It said that the biodiversity mainly comprises 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, 75 species of trees, 35 species of shrubs and herbs, 16 species of bamboo and grass and 21 species of climbers costing more than Rs.3 billion.

VJAS has mentioned the reference complete public support of Chandrapur district environmentalists, now seven MPs from Vidarbha region joined hands to show their support to the cause of protecting last remaining tiger havens in the country.

The MPs from the region, forgetting their political affiliations, Congress MPs led by Vilas Muttemwar (Nagpur), Datta Meghe (Wardha), Marotrao Kowase (Gadchiroli) , BJP's Hansraj Ahir (Chandrapur) , Sanjay Dhotre (Akola) and Shiv Sena's Anandrao Adsul (Amravati) and Pratap Jadhav (Buldhana) joined hands to show their support to the cause.

VJAS has attached copy of a joint letter of these M.P.s to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh drawing his attention to the colossal damage that the Adani mines would cause in the vicinity of the famous Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR).

As per letter handed over to the PM by Dutta Meghe and Sanjay Dhotre, two prominent leaders from Vidarbha, it is reported that "Adani Power Ltd has been allocated 1,750 hectares of rich forest land having coal reserves at Lohara neat Tadoba. We are of the considered view, based on incontrovertible information, that operation of the proposed opencast coal mine will cause irreparable damage to the rich biodiversity in and around TATR and seriously endanger the very existence of the tiger. There are 45 tigers in the reserve forest, rated as the best in the country in terms of tiger density,"

Throwing light of serious impact of damage letter further adds that’s whopping 1,600 hectares of the land allocated to the private company supports rich forest from which over 12 lakh full grown trees will be cut down for the mining work, The biodiversity mainly comprises 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, 75 species of trees, 35 species of shrubs and herbs, 16 species of bamboo and grass and 21 species of climbers. As per the environmental impact analysis, the environmental cost would be a mind boggling Rs 2.78 billion.

It is reported in the media that the mining operation sp close to a protected forest negates the government's very own conservation policy on which billions are spent to protect tigers. VJAS has urged the President to look in to MPS suggestion that Adani Power Group can be given an re-allocated some alternatives mining blocks or links where there is no damage to forest and wildlife.

Otherwise, it said that the company may be advised to use coal which it regularly imports for the proposed power plant to come up at Tiroda in Gondia district. This way power can be produced without sacrificing rich forests, rare biodiversity and endangered tiger.

VJAS president Kishore Tiwari said that the EIA and Adani group coal block controversy is not new. He alleged that the NCP leader and union minister for civil aviation Praffull Patel has played key role to clear this coal block hence his name is missing from the letter. He said that they have proof to alleged massive corruption and active role of Adani’s Election Fund to Congress and NCP to get EIA clearance. (EOM)

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Coal mining threatens tigers in Maharashtra reserve -Save “Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR)”

ENVIRONMENT
Coal mining threatens tigers in Maharashtra reserve
Proposals for mining in the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve are pending at New Delhi for environmental clearance. Conservationists have warned against proceeding, while the state's politicians are for the mining. Jaideep Hardikar digs deeper.

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Chandrapur,==For the wild life lovers and conservationists, the news could not have been more heartening. Junona, a tiny hamlet 15km east of Chandrapur tucked in the old and pristine forests of the district, has got a new tiger family: a tigress with three cubs; and if the villagers are to be believed, the robust male (perhaps the father of the cubs) is keeping the company.

Just last month, three abandoned two-month-old cubs found in the same jungle had to be shifted to the Nagpur zoo where they'll now spend rest of their life in cage. There's no news of their mother still. But the new family of the wild cat brings hope for the country's fast-shrinking tigers. This is the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), and that's where the happy news ends. In a matter of days, the last of tiger havens could be disturbed and eventually destroyed to pave way for the nation's still unmet thirst for electricity. This jungle sits on rich coal reserves, about to be mined.

Coal mining to choke tiger reserve

"We are staring at a disaster," says Mukesh Bhandakkar, a field assistant with the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI). If the mining proposals get the nod from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), India should better forget tigers. Mukesh's fears do not seem exaggerated. The wild cat's future could only then be a caged existence like that of the three cubs. "I fear the new tiger family will meet the same fate too," says Mukesh. Junona's wilderness may be lost forever.

As many as 21 new opencast coalmines are threatening to transform Chandrapur city and district into one big coal quarry and overburden dumping ground. Four of these, argue conservationists, would cut the crucial tiger corridors that link the north and south Chandrapur forest divisions. Three of the four captive mines � Lohara-Lohara Extension, Lohara (west) and Agarzari � are in buffer zone of the TATR.

If the proposals get the MoEF nod, the TATR would be rendered an island, where tigers would perish within years. A tiger requires approximately 10 square km of territory to exist, and if that space shrinks, the wild cat doesn't breed; something that only nature could explain. Currently, tigers from TATR have vast stretches of corridors to go places in north and south Chandrapur divisions during the breeding season. If the mines come up several kms of corridors would be snapped east-west forever.

The road piercing the forests with the demarcation of Adani Mine project area. Pic: Jaideep Hardikar.

The first one to come to the area is the Adani Mining Company, a sister concern of the Adani Power Company that has bagged 1750-ha of captive coalmine blocks in Lohara (west) and Lohara extension for its thermal power project in Gondia. Part of the Wardha valley coalfields, the blocks bear an estimated 170 million tons of coal deposits, of which 140 Mt is extractible. Man and machine would go to the depths of 350 metres to extract the coal round the clock. Already, the Lohara village, which would be acquired for the project, is ready to move with hefty cash compensation being offered by the company.

Nitin Desai, western India head of the WPSI, says that every single tiger left with now is a percentage of the population; Chandrapur has 80 tigers. The mining projects are only going to negate all that conservationists did for years, he points out. �The fact that there's a tigress with three cubs four months old apart from other wildlife indicates that it's a flourishing tiger habitat. At what cost are you handing over such inviolate forests to the mining projects then?"

Company ready to minimise impact, damage may be irreparable

In a presentation that the Adani group made on December 22, 2008 before the forest officials and NGOs in Nagpur, the former admitted to the destruction through direct and indirect impacts. The presentation was based on the Environment Impact Assessment study. The company noted that the project would destroy forest and the habitat of wild animals, which include of tigers, leopards, sloth bear, wild dogs and some 70 other species. The Lohara forests have a measured density of 0.7-0.8, forest officials say. This, in the forest conservation parlance, is sacrosanct � you cannot touch it.

Sanjeev Dokey, the general manager of Adani Mining, says the company is open to all that would help reduce the impact of mining activity. "The mine life is 40 years; we are dividing it into two halves. We'll dig western side first and start filling the mined area by the overburden simultaneously, so that no more than 800 hectares of area is under use at one time," he argues.

Fact file: Chandrapur is home to Maharashtra's nearly 60 per cent forest

By 2007 census, there are over 80 tigers in the protected and reserve forests of the district, about 8-9 per cent of the existing tiger population of the country 21 new coal mines are in pipeline in the district apart from 10 existing ones.

Three of these open cast mines are in buffer zone around the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, one of the last remaining havens for Indian tigers.

The allotted coal blocks sit on TATR buffer zone, or reserve forest that is a rich tiger corridor linking north and south Chandrapur forest divisions.

It has an estimated 300 species of trees and about 70 wild animals.

The biodiversity that will perish is irreplaceable and invaluable.

The Lohara and Lohara (Extension) blocks are allocated to the Adani Mining Ltd as captive source of proposed thermal power plant to come in Tiroda, Gondia.

The Rs.1200 crores project over 1750-ha of forest (with an estimated 0.7 and 0.8 density) will be one of the biggest opencast coalmine in the country.

The company has got a lease of 40 years with an ultimate working depth of 350 metres.

The mine has estimated 140 million tones of extractible coal deposits and a total of 170 million tones of geological reserves.

The company will pay Rs.170 crore in compensation for the forestland.

Murli Agro has bagged the adjoining 700-ha Lohara East coal block, which, if cleared by the MoEF, would along with the Lohara West snap the tiger corridor and kill the last remaining forest reserves.

The coal block in Agarzari spread over 700-ha of forest has been allotted to the Maharashtra State Mining Company (MSMC). It will be an extension to the existing Padmapur coalmine, which has already destroyed vast stretches of forest.

Mines will not only snap the corridor forever, it'll render the TATR an island; it means a quick death of tigers and other extinct flora and fauna in the zone.

The company would regenerate the mined area immediately, he explains, and adds that not the entire area would be required for mining activity. While admitting that the rigorous round-the-clock mining activity would not only destroy the forest wealth, but also impact the wild life habitat, the Adani Mining Company has shown its commitment to reduce the impact and go to any extent to do conservation.

"India will have to decide now. Either we protect forests or go ahead with the irreparable destruction of something that only nature can create."
Mohan Hirabai Hiralal, Chandrapur's frontline conservationist and thinker.


Tiger terror in Chandrapur
Resettling people for the tiger

"The company," Dokey had said during the public hearing in Lohara last year, "is equally concerned, and a detailed survey of flora/fauna and wildlife management from reputed organization, Environsearch Pune has been undertaken. The report of wildlife management will be finalised in consultation with the chief wildlife warden, Maharashtra state, and further it will be submitted to the MoEF for the further decision." Only, there won't be any forest or wild life left to manage.

Key politicians and officials are in support

The issue has also exposed powers-that-be and local politicians, the MLAs and the MPs, who first bitterly opposed it, but later dropped their anti-project stand.

The chairman of the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC) and former MLA from Chimur, Avinash Warjukar, believes power, steel and cement are the top priorities before the country. "Unless you give coal fuel to these sectors you can't generate employment. It's time we decided if man is important or tiger."

The allotment of coalmine blocks bang in the sensitive buffer zones around the TATR to companies having the backing of powerful politicians has come as a shocker to the conservationists. The open and vocal support to some of these companies, particularly to Adani Mining Company, by Maharashtra forest minister, Babanrao Pachpute, only deepens the fear of the nature lovers.

Pachpute is evidently in favour of the projects. "We'll do our best to reduce its impact," he told a meeting of conservationists last month in Nagpur, where he openly backed the Adani project and issued a veiled warning to the conservationists to toe his line. The minister instead set up an informal study committee to recommend steps to reduce the impact of mining.

But a top forest official, admits on the condition of anonymity: "If the proposed coal mines get clearance, na bachega bagh, na rahega jungle." His concern: "Even if you pay crores of rupees in compensation for the trees lost or wildlife killed, you can not recreate this forest, which is not man made but a nature's gift." The biotic interference has grown to such extent that forest won't grow in the future.

Graphic on mines in buffer zones cutting the tiger corridors. Pic: Jaideep Hardikar.

Not all government-controlled bodies are toeing the minister�s line. In a written reply to a query under the RTI Act filed by Swanand Soni, convenor of Ekjut, a local platform of 25 environmental groups, the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) said on 3 December 2008 that the environmental damage that the mines would cause would be irreparable. It will also create huge amount of pollution, which, in the district, has already reached hazardous levels.

"At best they can build a garden but can't recreate forest wealth and wild life, which is only the nature's gift," says Soni. He however adds that Ekjut is not opposed to any project or a company, but merely activity in tiger tracts. "We have no objection if the government allots them mining blocks at some other place that does not fall on forest land," he says and adds that the company should finalise its report on impact on wildlife pre and post-mining activity in consultation with some of India's best-known experts given the gravity of the issue. "You can't bank on the opinion of only wildlife warden when the issue is of such gravity and covets a decisive policy direction."

Past experience and environmental clearance rejection is basis for hope

Experience however is that forest conservation and mining don't go hand in hand. The Padampur coalmine, along the Agarzari block allotted freshly to the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC) in Chandrapur is an example. The mining has destroyed huge tracts of forest along the TATR boundary apart from dramatically increasing the biotic pressures on the other reserve forests.

Ekjut has demanded that a comprehensive study be undertaken to gauge the impact of all the 21 mines on forests, bio-diversity and human settlements. Soni says the cluster of mines would cut one contiguous forest corridor into several patches, which eventually would perish with the growing biotic interference. "All the country's experts must study the combined impact of all the mines than the impact of just one mining project of the Adanis," propose the Ekjut members.

Conservationist Bandu Dhotre warns: "Destruction of these forests by the mines will set the ecological time bomb. We'll lose forever the only oxygen cylinder." That's not all. The mines would eventually destroy Asia's only teak germ-plasm bank, started 40 years ago, with about 300 varieties of teak plants. If conserved, India would be able to clone all the teak varieties 60 years from now.

Mohan Hirabai Hiralal, Chandrapur's frontline conservationist and thinker, says the issue is not local; it's global, and most importantly, national. "India will have to decide now. Either we protect forests or go ahead with the irreparable destruction of something that only nature can create."

He warns generations would be haunted by an ecological disaster following the destruction of forests. "It's not just the tiger's." What's at stake is ecologically rich forest with an irreplaceable, invaluable biodiversity, which can't be valued in cash. The allotted blocks are home to over 300 species of centuries-old trees, official data shows. Some of the trees are such that they can't be re-planted now due to changing climate and growing human interference, forest officials say.

The conservationists are ready for a protracted battle with the government and the private companies. They have hope from two precedents.

One, exactly ten years ago, the MoEF had rejected the ACC Ltd's proposal of the Lohara (East) coalmine, the 700-ha forest block now allotted to Murli Agro Ltd adjoining the proposed coalmine of the Adani group. Refusing to issue the crucial environment clearance, the MoEF had then said: "The proposed Lohara (East) coalmine project falls close to the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary and Tadoba Tiger Reserve and would adversely affect the wildlife and bio-diversity of the area."

Two, Indira Gandhi, the then prime minister of India, had in the late nineteen-seventies and early eighties dropped the Bhopalpatnam and Silent Valley projects, for the reason that they would destroy the vastly rich bio-diversity that man could not recreate. Three decades on, conservationists wonder if her vision could come in handy to save the wild cat from near extinction. Or push them into a caged existence forever.

Jaideep Hardikar
15 March 2009

Jaideep Hardikar is a Nagpur based journalist. He has also been a recipient of several national media fellowships and was the winner of the 2003 Sanskriti award from Sanskriti Foundation, New Delhi, and a 2005 scholarship to research the agrarian crisis in Vidarbha from the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, New Delhi.

earlier today

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Vidarbha MPs meet PM over coal block to Adani Power

Vidarbha MPs meet PM over coal block to Adani Power

Wed, Jul 29 11:40 PM

Nagpur, Jul 29 (PTI) Seven MPs from Vidarbha region, cutting across party lines, today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and handed over a letter to save tigers and rich forests by allotting an alternative coal block to Adani Power Ltd. Former Union Minister and local Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar along with Datta Meghe (Congress, Wardha), Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena, Amravati), Hansraj Ahir (BJP, Chandrapur), Sanjay Dhore (BJP, Akola), Marotrao Kowase (Congress, Gadchiroli) and Pratap Jadhav (Shiv Sena, Buldana) submitted a signed letter to Manmohan Singh in Delhi today. The letter said 1,750 hectare coal block has been alloted to Adani Power Ltd for operating a captive opencast mine for their proposed thermal power plant coming up in Tiroda in Gondia district. The coal block falls under the buffer zone of Tadoba- Andhari Tiger Reserve and the biodiversity in the area mainly consists of 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, it said. The company proposes to mine four million tonnes of coal per annum for which it will have to excavate 17 times as much soil, 78 million tonnes per year and will use 55 tonnes of explosives for the blasting operations which is likely to disturb the entire population of 45 tigers in TATR, it said. The MPs urged Singh to allot Adani Power an alternative coal block where there is no forest and wildlife.

Vidarbha MPs meet PM over coal block to Adani Power

Vidarbha MPs meet PM over coal block to Adani Power

Wed, Jul 29 11:40 PM

Nagpur, Jul 29 (PTI) Seven MPs from Vidarbha region, cutting across party lines, today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and handed over a letter to save tigers and rich forests by allotting an alternative coal block to Adani Power Ltd. Former Union Minister and local Congress MP Vilas Muttemwar along with Datta Meghe (Congress, Wardha), Anandrao Adsul (Shiv Sena, Amravati), Hansraj Ahir (BJP, Chandrapur), Sanjay Dhore (BJP, Akola), Marotrao Kowase (Congress, Gadchiroli) and Pratap Jadhav (Shiv Sena, Buldana) submitted a signed letter to Manmohan Singh in Delhi today. The letter said 1,750 hectare coal block has been alloted to Adani Power Ltd for operating a captive opencast mine for their proposed thermal power plant coming up in Tiroda in Gondia district. The coal block falls under the buffer zone of Tadoba- Andhari Tiger Reserve and the biodiversity in the area mainly consists of 18 animal species, nine of which including tiger and leopard are endangered species, it said. The company proposes to mine four million tonnes of coal per annum for which it will have to excavate 17 times as much soil, 78 million tonnes per year and will use 55 tonnes of explosives for the blasting operations which is likely to disturb the entire population of 45 tigers in TATR, it said. The MPs urged Singh to allot Adani Power an alternative coal block where there is no forest and wildlife.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir's visit to dying field of Vidarbha :VJAS urged Jamir to Provide Integrated Development Plan to remove back log of Vidarbha.

Nagpur- July 24, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir today visited pandharkawada ,place known as dying field due on going cotton farmers suicides due to agrarian crisis and starvation death of kolam tribals .Delegation of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) has desicussed the problems of west vidarbha and submitted the memorandum detailing the hardships of vidarbha and urged Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir and quote -




To,

Shri SC Jamir ,

Hon,ble Governor ,

Govt. Of Mahrashtra

Camp-Yavatmal

Ref-Problems of vidarbha need urgent attention for integrated development of region.

Most respected sir,

Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a committee fighting for the justice to poor citizens, Tribals and Dalits. The samiti has successfully persuaded the cause of Malnutrition and the serious issue of Starvation deaths of tribals which rocked the Yavatmal District in the year 2003,we are internationally known advocacy group fighting for right of cotton farmers and raising voice against toxic food promoted through GM seeds in India. We have been raising issue of unwed mother and plights of vidarbha farm widows .we want to drow your attention to following systematic failure of vidarbha leading to agrarian crisis and has made pathetic condition of vidarbha region.the major area we want to draw your attention v.i.z.

1.Complete failure of NREGA(maharashtra rajya EGS)

Even maharshtra is pioneering state to introduce rural employment guarantee scheme ,the response and performance of NREGA is under big scanner as work offered to villagers they are not willing to work hence man days made available in last years are speaking the successes of this scheme it needs urgent modification to have rural masses involvement ,you are kindly requested to appoint stake holders committee to suggest proper modification

2.Failure and poor implementation of NRHM (National Rural Health Mission).

The present staff and services available speaks regarding complete failure of NRHM (National Rural Health Mission) in vidarbha as health services from top to bottom are too poor to explain .we are ready to show you the pathetic condition of health services that needs critical intensive care as it is virtually on ventilation. All provisions of expert to super specialty are on paper as there is no 24+7 doctor in any PHC ,state has failed to provide qualified staff nurse and pathologist in 90% of tribal health centers and rural hospitals .

3.Failure and poor implementation of NFSM(National Food Security Mission).

We are happy to inform you that all kolam tribal have already been covered under antyodaya scheme but other tribals are till not covered under antyodaya scheme hence please ask maharashtra to provide food security to every tribal family in vidarbha

4 Failure and poor implementation of INDIRA AWWAS YOJANA for tribals.

Till date more than 75% tribals have not been provided the shelter under Indiara Awwas Yojana hence to provide house to every tribal family in vidarbha

5.Failure and poor implementation of ICDS in tribal belt of vidarbha .

presently the ICDS is being implemented by state on temporary basis hence anagwadi and balwadi staff is not paid proper salary ,the mid day meal through SHG has been failed hence urgent review is need of ICDS in tribal part .

6.Failure and poor implementation of Prime Minister Farmer Relief Package in west vidarbha.

Presently relief package given by prime minister of India in order to tackle agrarian crisis and to stop farmers suicide is not been implemented properly due to massive corruption high level committee report on failure of relief package is pending with maharashtra govt. please arrange to review the report and order C.B.I. probe in to irregularities in farmers relief packages.

7.Failure and poor implementation of farmer loan waiver relief due to poor response from nationalized banks.

All loan waiver provided by central and state Govt. failed to bring out debt trap of farmers from exploitation of private money lenders hence agriculture credit review after loan waiver is must and state should provide regulator for farm credit to every cultivator .

8. Failure and poor implementation of various Governors directives to states for clearing backlog of vidarbha in the field of irrigation and education.

All earlier directives given by you in order to remove existing backlog of irrigation and education is not implemented hence corrective action is needed to address the unrest in west vidarbha.

9. Failure and poor implementation of ITDP and mass diversion of tribal fund .

The implementation of integrated tribal development programme is not serious iisue for the administration as state has not created regular cadre and staff to implement the long term plan of tribal development hence failure of ITDP has lead to this pathetic condition of tribals in vidarbha.

10. issue of farm widows and unwed mother

The region is in the grip of agrarian crisis, tribal starvation that created various social problems and there are thousands of farm widows and hundereds unwed mothers mostly from tribal community needs rehabilitation ,you are kindly requested to arrange to provide the relief to farm widows and unwed mothers.

11. Deforestation and land less farmers issue .

The region is facing serious problem of deforestation by land less farmers that has created serious climate change to ecological problem hence hence preservation of forest is must

unquote

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“the ground condition in rural vidarbha is pathetic,it not only issue of farmers suicides and tribal starvation deaths,the region is going through the complete system failure .peopel need urgent steps to remove the darkness , Governor SC Jamir will certainly arrange to give us relief under his constitutional powers of section 371-372 to remove over back log of vidarbha”Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) urged Governor SC Jamir today.

VJAS delegation of vidarbha farm widows,unwed mothers and cotton farmers today met Governor SC Jamir in the village akoli in Yavatmal District provided administration is ,Kishore Tiwari informed today .
Governor SC Jamir was informed abput the major issues of backwardness of mainly Irrigation backlogs of vidarbha which has increased whopping Rs 24265 crore from Rs.405 in 1982 according to a survey done by the Dandekar Committee thanks to the casual and step-motherly approach of western Maharashtra politicians who have always had an upper hand in state politics and always ignored governor directives under constitutional powers of section 371-372 .

“such visits of VIP to vidarbha is works as salt rubbing to our burns due to political indifference suffered by Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra, darkness of vidarbha can only be removed by giving separate statehood to vidarbha ”tiwari added.
Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra it has been given a colony status as Maharashtra Govt. failed give fund planned in state outlay allotted to spent on removing development backlog of backward vidarbha even after it was officially accepted by the then government since 1960.It is always alleged that politicians from western Maharashtra take away all benefits for development of western Maharashtra after formation of Maharashtra .

VJAS urged Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir to provide integrated development plan to remove back log of vidarbha. With time bound solution to address agrarian crisis, issue of irrigation and power crisis and justice to tribals ,tiwari informed.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir to see darkness Vidarbha

VJAS urged Jamir to Provide Integrated Development Plan to remove back log of Vidarbha.

Nagpur- July 22, 2009

Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir is on five days tour to vidarbha from 21st July to 25th July and it is learnt that he wants to under stand basic issues of related to farmers suicides, tribals starvation and malnutrition ,irrigation backlog and existing power crisis . SC Jamir veteran politician is visiting hospital, schools and police station along with other institutes where administration has arranged stage managed show cum visits, he has already visited naxalite effected Gadchiroli District and attending washim today then he will visiting farm suicide capital of vidarbha that tribal belt of west vidarbha part of of Yavatmal district to know the hardships of hundreds farm widows,unwed mothers, starved kolam tribals but it is unlikely that local administration will make his visit possible with these people in order to avoid humiliation due to it’s complete failure to implement NREGA,NRHM,Indiara Awwas Yojana ,ITDP,ICDS,control order 2001 to provide food security to poor under BPL families.

“the ground condition in rural vidarbha is pathetic,it not only issue of farmers suicides and tribal starvation deaths,the region is going through the complete system failure .peopel need urgent steps to remove the darkness , Governor SC Jamir will certainly arrange to give us relief under his constitutional powers of section 371-372 to remove over back log of vidarbha”Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) urged Governor SC Jamir today.

VJAS delegation of vidarbha farm widows,unwed mothers and cotton farmers is visitng Governor SC Jamir on 24th afternoon in the village akoli in Yavatmal District provided administration is granting the permission ,Kishore Tiwari informed today .
The major issue in fact is the Irrigation backlogs of vidarbha which has increased whopping Rs 24265 crore from Rs.405 in 1982 according to a survey done by the Dandekar Committee thanks to the casual and step-motherly approach of western Maharashtra politicians who have always had an upper hand in state politics and always ignored governor directives under constitutional powers of section 371-372 .

“such visits of VIP to vidarbha is works as salt rubbing to our burns due to political indifference suffered by Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra, darkness of vidarbha can only be removed by giving separate statehood to vidarbha ”tiwari added.
Vidarbha since it became a part of Maharashtra it has been given a colony status as Maharashtra Govt. failed give fund planned in state outlay allotted to spent on removing development backlog of backward vidarbha even after it was officially accepted by the then government since 1960.It is always alleged that politicians from western Maharashtra take away all benefits for development of western Maharashtra after formation of Maharashtra .

VJAS urged Maharashtra Governor SC Jamir to provide integrated development plan to remove back log of vidarbha. With time bound solution to address agrarian crisis, issue of irrigation and power crisis and justice to tribals ,tiwari informed.

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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Pulse crisis-Tur prices still high-Times of India Reports

Printed from

Tur prices stable but still high

*****
Farm activists Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) on Sunday claimed retail rates have crossed Rs 100 a kg in markets around Yavatmal. Tiwari, who operates from Yavatmal, one of the highest Tur growing centre of the state, says that the government must begin sale of the pulse through public distribution system. Moreover, the state must also bring into place quantitative restrictions on storage of tur dal capping it at 5,000 quintals. "While the centre had issued guidelines in this regard it has been only implemented in Andaman and Nicobar while Tur growing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh should also have implemented the rule," added Tiwari.
****
NAGPUR: The spiralling prices of tur dal seem to have finally taken a pause. Good monsoons and a better crop outlook have eased the rates by around Rs 500-800 in the wholesale market in the last one week. But even then it remains much above the common man's reach.

Wholesalers say that the rates have come down to Rs 8,000 a quintal for best variety while for others they are up to Rs 7300-7000. This would translate to a rate of around 75 to 85 a kg in the retail market where prices had already touched Rs 90-92 per kg, added Suresh Bhojwani, former president of Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce (NVCC). The drop in demand due to high prices is also one of the factors for the rates to come down, he added. Till last week wholesale rates had seen an average daily rise of Rs 100 a quintal.

A section of traders brush calls it just a correction in the market and are uncertain about trend in the future. A quick survey by the TOI revealed that Tur dal was being still sold at Rs 84 to even Rs 90 a kg in the grocery shops. Retailers acknowledge that wholesale prices have come down. They say it may not bring down retail rates but would certainly arrest further rise. "I am selling dal at Rs 90 a kg but I think this is the end of upward movement," said a store-keeper.

Farm activists Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) on Sunday claimed retail rates have crossed Rs 100 a kg in markets around Yavatmal. Tiwari, who operates from Yavatmal, one of the highest Tur growing centre of the state, says that the government must begin sale of the pulse through public distribution system. Moreover, the state must also bring into place quantitative restrictions on storage of tur dal capping it at 5,000 quintals. "While the centre had issued guidelines in this regard it has been only implemented in Andaman and Nicobar while Tur growing states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh should also have implemented the rule," added Tiwari.
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Pathetic condition of Private Engg. Colleges in Maharashtra –VJAS urged Indian Govt. to nationalise all private Engg. Colleges

Pathetic condition of Private Engg. Colleges in Maharashtra –VJAS urged Indian Govt. to nationalise all private Engg. Colleges

Nagpur-19TH JULY 2009

Vidarbha Janandolan samiti (VJAS ) has drawn the attention of Indian Govt. towards the pathetic condition and ill management of Private Engg. Colleges running degree courses in

advance courses of Engg. And technology as non of college has got technical qualified staff ,more over the laboratories and libraries and either are in a dying stage or most of institutes are having it on papers as per recent AICTE inspection report done for accreditation as more than 98% institutes are till not officially approved by apex body of central govt. monitoring the quality of these technical colleges but role of AICTE has been very doubtful as all the time inspection team is being bribed by the management to get time lease for up gradation ..

Here is actual in take capacity of these private colleges in Maharashtra and the metros like Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur are having 80% of these bogus Engg. Colleges run by politicians

CITY

ENGG COLLEGE

IN TAKE CAPACITY(Including management quota)

PUNE

66 (New Addition 8)

28,810

MUMBAI

54 (New Addition 6)

24,800

NAGPUR

52 (New Addition 5)

22,800

AMRAVATI

23 (New Addition 3)

8,400

MAHARASHTRA

284 (New Addition 56)

1,12,312

STAFF

Out of 284 state permitted Engg. only 22 has got regular qualified principal as person holding master degree with Ph.D. with more than 10 years teaching experience are not available and most of colleges are showing names of persons who working in corporate houses or out side India and are being paid huge amount to attend AICTE inspection .the condition of lower staff at the level of professor and asst. Professor is too worst to explain as most of the ex-students who failed to complete the degree even after 7-8 years are being offered the job teachers in the name of some other person working in US or in the industries.

‘Even Girl friend of owner of college with out having basic Master Degree and experience all most nil ,is working as principal of one best ranked Engg. Institutes in Nagpur. ‘when illiterate Minister can be the vice-chancellor of our deemed university then what’s wrong ’ innocent student of B.E.(I) Mona Agrawal asked “frequency of change of teacher is so fast that this year our external examiner has given us internal marks at the time of final exam as in the whole session ,there were change of teacher in every fortnight and no practical performed , but thanks to the external as he has given Fullmark’s to every body’ she added.

‘there is always a fear of final year students as most of them are likely to be our faculty member for next academic year, as it is happening since 2001 ,we are being threaten by senior accordingly, when we try to report eve teasing ’ she said.

‘It’s mockery of education and innocent victimisation of our parents as we have to join private tuitions classes right from first semester to last one by paying very heavy fees. state should stop this exploitation ’mona urged.

“there are outdated computers mostly given to college under from his MP/MLA LAD fund by owner of the institute ,all equipments are either faulty or there is no operator to show it’s functioning ,when we ask for the text books in the library then Liberian gives name bookstall suggesting purchase it”

Vidarbha Janandolan samiti (VJAS ) has asked Indian Govt. to nationalize and regulate these mass mushrooming of private Engg. College in Maharashtra in order to stop degradation of standards of technical education in India.

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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

NREGA SAGA-Times of India exposes truth

There is a flip side to NREGS hike too-Times of India

There is a flip side to NREGS hike too

NAGPUR: A 55% increase in wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) may hit the farmers of Vidarbha, mainly the cotton cash crop belt of western Vidarbha, where decreasing returns and rising debts from farming have led to thousands of farmers committing suicide in the last decade.

The substantial increase in wages under NREGS from Rs 60 per day to Rs 100 now is expected to result in shortage of daily wage labourers for the farm sector, farm activists said. "The NREGS wage rate will be too attractive for labourers in the countryside who will prefer it to slogging in the fields in the current kharif season. Small farmers who find the occupation too risky and even loss-making may give it up and report for NREGS work instead," said farm activist and Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti president Kishore Tiwari on Tuesday.

In major cash crops of cotton and sugarcane, farm labour is essential right from sowing to regular weeding operation. "Naturally, farm labour will now use the NREGS rate as bargaining point and demand more. Till last season these workers were getting around Rs 60 per day," Tiwari pointed out.

"While it is good that the worker will be paid more in NREGS and now also at the farms, the flip side of the rural job scheme will be increase in input cost of the farmer. With labour bill going up, the distressed cotton farmer's income will take a further dip," Tiwari explained.

"In several areas of the state, NREGS wages serve as the benchmark for farm labourers for negotiating a better payment from farmers. But farmers won't be in a position now to pay more than Rs 100," said Shetkari Sanghatana leader Vijay Jawandhiya. He has now demanded that the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices, under the Union agriculture ministry, should now raise the minimum support price (MSP) for all agriculture produce to offset the loss farmers would incur on account of this.

According to Jawandhiya and Tiwari, cheap foodgrains schemes especially for BPL category, though essential to ensure food security, were also creating problems. "A week's labour is enough for a farm labour in the BPL group to earn enough money that can buy his month's grain supply. Once he stocks it up, the worker is then reluctant to go for hard day's labour and while away his time and indulging in vices like drinking and gambling ," said Tiwari. "In such times, a farmer has a tough time finding farm hands in crucial Kharif season in Vidarbha."

NREGS: The truth is in the lies- Sunil Warrier,Times of India


Printed from

NREGS: The truth is in the lies

PANDHARKAWDA (Yavatmal district): As we prepared to turn back to Nagpur after visiting three villages in this suicide capital of Maharashtra, an agitated voice on the phone of our host prompted us to give it a hearing. A former sarpanch, the voice is now an NCP activist. He was well informed about various government schemes meant for the poor. He had a telling comment to make.

"If the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is implemented the right way, there will be no need for MP and MLAs funds," he said with complete conviction.

Look at the figures: At Rs 2 crore per 543 MP, the allocation comes to Rs 1086 crore (most times this remains underutilized). In his budget, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has increased the NREGA allocation by 144% and it's now Rs 39,100 crore.

Had all the money been put to use, there would perhaps been no rickety roads in India. Not every road can be a Mumbai-Pune Expressway but certainly it would have connected many remote and inaccessible villages and brought them on the national motor map. Hidden somewhere between the humongous figures are some lies and half-truths about the UPA's flagship scheme that was meant to provide employment and minimum wage of Rs 100 per day for at least 100 days in a year.

We deliberately chose villages around Pandharkawda. At the height of the agrarian crisis last year, this district created maximum farmer widows. Jalka, where Rahul Gandhi's Kalavati stays, and Sonkhas, where Shashikala resides, is just round the corner. We also deliberately chose not to visit these two villages.

At Mandoli, we encountered Bhimrao Atram creating an embankment to prevent water from gushing into the agricultural fields. The village, largely comprising the Kollam tribe, is Atram's sasural. No, he hasn't heard of the complicated acronym N-R-E-G-S. He is content earning between Rs 65 and Rs 90 per day from the farm owners. He manages to keep his family of four (wife and three children) sufficiently well fed.

However, his neighbours have. Some have paid Rs 100 to get the brochure-looking impeccably maintained registration book which allows you to fill in many details but is strangely blank. The truth: "Who do I approach for the job?" "What kind of jobs are available?" "Are jobs available at all?" "No, I didn't try asking for any job." "There was no publicity about the scheme." From blatant ignorance to utter disregard.

Next stop Wanzari, a little beyond Mandoli. Only a few elders are present as most are working as farmhands. A village elder informs that village and government officials had publicised the scheme. "Many enrolled but only a few sought work when they came to know that largely it involved breaking down stones. Youngsters, though illiterate, want to have fun and not perform hard labour," he said. "Moreover, work under the scheme should be undertaken when we are not working in the farms. If we have work in the farms who will go seeking other work?"

A lady interrupted saying she had actually got work under the scheme. She worked exactly for a day and is still awaiting payment for it.

"Most government officials do not give publicity to the scheme as they want to show that labour is not easily available," said Kishor Tiwari, convenor of the NGO, Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, which is working for the cause of the farmers. "By doing so they are able to complete projects hiring machines which are owned by politicians and are lying around in large numbers."
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Saturday, July 4, 2009

UPA Budget 2009-10-VJAS urged Finance Minister to give special Economic Package to Dying Vidarbha


VJAS urged Finance Minister to give special Economic Package to Dying Vidarbha


NAGPUR: -4th July 2009,

Vidarbha Jan andolan Samiti (VJAS) has drawn the attention of Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee toward pathetic condition of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra which is known as farm suicide capital of India.It's agrarian crisis but massive backwardness in the infrastructure developments,lack of industrialisation coupled with regular power cut-load shedding ,tribal starvation death ,malnutrition and complete failure of NREGA and NRHM in vidarbha has made this region as colony of salves of western Maharashtra and mumbai .Massive corruption and hostile administration has made ground condition too critical to define ,Vidarbha is the completely ignored region in Maharashtra that has resulted this economic crisis ,needs to be addressed with special economic package by the central budgetary sanctions ,urged by VJAS in letter to FM before the budget.

VJAS president Kishore Tiwari has recalled the visit of Indian prime minister Dr.Manmohan singh to vidarbha and announcement of Rs.3750 crore farmers relief package which has terned to be hoax followed by loan waivers series given by union and state Govt. as it failed to raise Agriculture Growth rate in the region moreover there is no respite to economic hardships of 3 million distressed farmers of vidarbha.Maharashtra attitude toward the vidarbha is so negative that state failed address the basic issues of food security and health care of distressed and dying farmers though there are numbers highcourt orders ,human rights commissions and special panels recommendations hence we need union Govt. intervention by way budgetary special economic package,Tiwari added.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee souled look at the problems of dry-land farmers of where farmers have to face vagaries of the nature as well as the market forces. Neglect of the dry-land farmers has led to cultivators’ growing dependence on cash crops and giving up food crops. special incentive food crop promotion is long pending demand of vidarbha region.VJAS also urged the FM to look an urgent need for setting up a agricultural price stabilisation fund. In the last five years, prices of farm produce have been volatile. For instance, soyabean prices have swung from Rs 1200 to Rs 4000 a quintal and pluses price Rs 24000 to Rs 74000 a quintal. Due to this a farmer seldom makes money. It is the middleman who gets the big cut while the consumers have to face the brunt of price rise. A stabilisation fund could be the answer to this problem,Tiwari said.

VJAS demands that the government should pump more funds into rural system restoration, NREG and National Rural Health Mission and tighten up the monitoring delivery system to control corruption.National review of NREG and NRHM is must,” demands Tiwari.
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