POLICE FIRING ON
Srikakulam, 6th Mar, 2011 : On 28-02-2011, at Vadditandra Village in the north coastal part of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, police opened fire on the agitators fighting against the East Coast Thermal Power Project. To enquiry on the incident, OPDR appointed a fact finding committee. On 5th and
1) Supreme Court’s judgment pronounced that “All tanks, ponds, canals, rivers, sea coast etc., are the sole property of the people. Government, on behalf of the people, is a trustee only to protect these natural resources. These are all for the public utility without any hindrances. State Government should not privatize any one of the above public property. As per the Electricity Act 2003, “establishing thermal power projects in cultivating agricultural lands” is prohibited. It is known that wet lands and fertile lands that yield two crops a year are shown as dry lands on record by the Govt. officials and the company and acquired permission to the Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Plant from the Central Government.
2) The claim of the Company that the thermal power project was built in 1240 acres, which was totally a Govt. land is absolutely false. In fact the Company occupied 3333 acres and brought into vogue that it was bought from APIIC.
3) Treating people, agitating peacefully since 200 days, as criminals, and the police from the lowest cadre to the highest official in chorus stating that ‘firing was opened only for self protection’ is travesty of truth. The police killed and the police themselves judge the act as for self protection. Then what for the courts and laws? The claim of the police that only rubber bullets were used is anotherfalsehood. The spinal injury of Bathini Barkaiah occurred only by iron bullets.
4) Why police took thumb impressions on blank papers from the family members of the deceased, Jeeru Nageswara Rao and Seerapu Yerraiah ?
2
It is clear that the police used both rubber and iron bullets. Two persons who were injured by iron bullets died, where as the remaining are tossing between life and death. Those who were hit by rubber bullets were left with serious injuries. The smoke bombs used by the police were out dated by 2002 itself. People with in 100 mts. were injured due to smoke bombs.
Law says that the permission of the District’s Highest Executive Magistrate is required by the police to take such action against the agitating masses.
The police, even with the least discretion for children, women and the old, lathi charged and opened fire as if they were fighting with the enemy, burnt houses and fodder (dry gross).Jeeru Nageswara Rao received seven bullet injuries in genital region where as Yerraiah had injuries on hand, and on the left lower chest, killing them and the spinal injuries of Barikaiah show clearly that firing was opened with an intention to kill.
5) The tampara tank extended over 3000 acres approximately is a source of livelihood to the people. 540 fishing families live depending on this tank. Since 1945, they are paying
lease to the Government. Thousands of families earn their food by selling the gross (Tunga – used for the roofs of thatched houses) grown in the waters of the tank. 20000 acres of land is irrigated under this tank directly or indirectly, apart from fulfilling the drinking water requirement.
6) In spite of the Govt’s. order to pay compensation not only to those who lost their cultivating lands, but also to those that lost their livelihood, none was paid compensation. Neither the Thermal Project owners, nor the Government have concern in this regard.
People loosing their livelihood, cultivating lands and shelter, all united and agitating peacefully against the Thermal Power Project, fighting for their ‘Right to Live’ is absolutely justified and constitutional.
7) 70% of power in the country is generated through thermal projects. Because of the pollution caused thermal power Projects should not be established in future.
3
In Andhra Pradesh10000 M.W. power is obtained from various resources, deficit is just 3000 M.W. But, the Govt. gave permission to 35 power plants, with a projected generation of 40000 M.W. Though the Govt. is not disclosing the purpose of this disproportionately high generation of power, it is known that the power will be utilized
in the petroleum and petro-chemical industries, to be established in the coastal area. Both are highly polluting industries. Thermal power projects in the state burn 1 lakh tons of coal per day, resulting in pollution of water, soil and air. If 4 C. increase of temperature is added to the existing atmospheric temperature, the Himalayan snow melts resulting in the increase of water levels in the sea up to 6 feet, submerging all the coastal regions permanently leading to the death of millions of people. The Govt. has dedicated itself to transform the state into an ocean of pollution. The capitalist system, dependent on foreign countries is being implemented by the Govt. subsequently lead to such anti-people practices.
In our country 13000 M.W. power only is generated through wind mills- 4900 M.W. in Tamil Nadu, 2900 M.W. in Maharashtra, 1500 M.W. in Karnataka where as our state is generating a meagre 136 M.W. power through wind mills. We need to concentrate on wind power (Wind Power in China 25000 M.W, America 36000 M.W., Germany 25000 M.W) It is highly necessary to think off alternative power generating resources like tydal and solar energy.
We request all the democratic forces to come on to a single platform, leaving all the district territorial and regional differences, to fight against the disastrous industrialization, which ultimately converts the state, an ocean of pollution.
Demands :-
1) Rs.20.00 lakhs to the deceased and Rs.10.00 lakhs to the injured must be paid to the families immediately.
2) The criminal cases imposed on 315 people of various villages must be withdrawn unconditionally and those imprisoned must be released immediately.
3) Criminal cases must be filed on the police officers, that are causative to the death of Jeeru Nageswara Rao and Seerapu Yerraiah and be prosecuted under IPC Section 302.
4
4) The environment permission issued to east coast thermal power plant must be cancelled. The pre-existing tank must be restored.
5) A criminal case must be filed against the revenue officials and Company owners, for misleading the Central Environment Department with their false report stating cultivating lands as dry lands and be prosecuted.
6) Names of the share holders, board of directors, details of shares they hold and how could they get these shares etc, must be revealed immediately.
7) New houses must be constructed and given to the people of Vadditandra village that lost their houses. People who lost household utensils, cloths, food grains etc. must be given adequate compensation and new ration cards must be issued to those whose houses were burnt.
F.F.C. Members :-
1) Ch.Sudhakara Rao, State President, OPDR.
2) V.Narayana Reddy, OPDR Organizing Secretary &
Advocate,
3) Chayaraj, Poet, Writer, Janasahithi.
