We are extremely thankful to you for the support and encouraging response that you gave us to build up the campaign against the revised Silent Valley HEP (Pathrakkadavu HEP) in the last few days.
The Public Hearing that took place on the proposed Pathrakkadavu HEP on the 21st May witnessed the complete violation of laws and procedures as prescribed in the Government guidelines (EIA Manuel). It also witnessed the violation of the right to express and violation of human rights. Since the issue involves the impact on Silent Valley National Park, an International Heritage, the only remaining pristine evergreen rainforests in the entire Western Ghats and the core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, every citizen of India has the responsibility to protect this area as per the Constitution of India and hence the fundamental right to voice his/her views at the Public Hearing on the proposed HEP. Since the issue also involves Bharathapuzha River, all the to be affected downstream people also have a say in this Public Hearing.
Actually the KSPCB is the agency authorized by the MoEF(Ministry of Environment and Forests) for conducting the PH. But, the One-sided Public Hearing stage show performed together by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and the local political parties took place thus….
10.a.m. People start assembling for the hearing at the venue, a small classroom in Cherumkulam School with hardly seating capacity for fifty.
11.a.m. The small room starts overflowing with people and more people are outside than inside. Atleast 500 odd public gathers outside including people from downstream areas, scientists, environmental groups, social movements and human right groups across Kerala. The Local Member of Legislative Assembly takes over the mike and announces that only the public from the two panchayaths (Mannarkkad and Kumaramputhur) can attend the PH and all others should leave the place (violation of procedure). Immediately the representatives of various groups seated inside are physically pushed out amidst slogans (again violation).
11.15 a.m. The representatives of various groups meet the panel members and request for shifting the venue to outside the room to accommodate all and to allow them to present their views at the PH as per the EIA norms. After consultation with panel members, the Chairman of the Panel (the KSPCB Chairman) agrees to shift the venue (reluctantly after heated debate) after the presentation of the KSEB and the EIA team is over. Meanwhile people claiming themselves to be ‘local villagers’ (in a drunken state) start directly confronting the groups outside, openly demanding them to leave the place. Arguments and protest slogans continue on both sides. The KSEB officials look on!
11.20 a.m. The Public Hearing starts. The KSEB and EIA team are allowed 30 mts for presentation. People who have come to speak opposing the project are blocked at the entrance and not allowed to enter. Police stands witness. The presentation continues for one hour.
12.20 p.m. The panel invites the public without shifting the venue to outside as promised. Aggressive outbursts from the so-called ‘local villagers’ break out when the panel announces that groups opposing the project will also be allowed to speak. A list of 43 representations opposing the Project from various parts of the State is submitted to the panel. After a few speakers ‘for the project’, the first speaker opposing the project starts speaking. The unruly crowd charges forward shouting slogans and someone snatches the mike. Police intervene and restrain the crowd. The panel looks on. Does not take any action. The second speaker is also not allowed. After a few ‘for the project speakers’ once more, the panel invites famous poetess Sugathakumari who was actively involved in the Save Silent Valley Campaign in the 1970s to present her view. The crowd again charges forward amidst booing and she is not allowed to speak against the project.
12.45.p.m.The District Collector enters the scene of utter humiliation to one of the prominent cultural icons of Kerala. The Collector though a member of the panel had deputed his junior. Sugathakumari is not allowed to complete her presentation and is escorted outside under police protection. We complain to the Collector on the denial of the right to speak and demand cancellation of the Hearing. The Collector intervenes, asks the Panel Chairman to invite ‘opposing the project’ speakers as well. The list of 43 is missing from the Chairman’s podium! All the three invited by the Collector who try to present their views against the project in front of the Collector are again humiliated. Abuses galore.
1.00.p.m. District Collector leaves in distress.
1.30.p.m. The Chairman of the panel winds up the Hearing after allowing a few ‘for the project’ presentations again. Note that the total time allowed for hearing is just one hour when there are 38 other representations ‘opposing the project’ waiting outside (violation of procedure). Noted scientists like Dr.V.S.Vijayan (Director, Salim Ali Centre for Conservation of Nature) and Dr. S.Sankar (Kerala Forest Research Institute) who have carried out studies in the Silent Valley and Sri. Indanoor Gopi, President, Bharathapuzha River Protection Council were not allowed to speak. The crowd is asked to disperse forcefully by the police. A few among the ‘opposing the project’ group are manhandled and abused even after the stage show is over.
What happened on 21st cannot be called a Public Hearing.
It amounts to gross violation of the Environmental Laws and human rights.
All the concerned people met after the hijacked hearing and decided to demand for cancellation of the hearing and hold a fresh hearing only after conducting a comprehensive EIA that should be transparent and participatory.
We need your help once again. Please write protest letters to the Secretary, MoEF and the CM of Kerala, Sri.A.K.Antony demanding cancellation of the PH and disciplinary action against the Chairman of the Panel in the addresses given below.
1.The Secretary,
MoEF,
Paryavaran Bhavan,
CGO Comple, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi-21
E-mail-
secy@menf.delhi.nic.in 2.Sri A.K.Antony
Chief Minster of Kerala
Government Secretariat,
Thiruvananthapuram-1
E-mail-
akantony@niyamasabha.org Ph: 91-0471-2333812,2333682
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