Crony capitalism and disregard of Citizens
Tuticorin Struggle is neither a caste conflict nor religious one.It is a struggle for livelihood.An inevitable struggle for clean air and potable water forced upon the people way back in 1994, when the Sterilite Industry laid its foundation and the Government of Tamilnadu supported in all ways by providing electricity, land and water. The water was facilitated to be drawn from Tamiraparani river.
In a way, the Government did not listen to the reservations expressed by people from different walks of life and reasonable concerns stated in strong terms by the environmental activists then. Further without deep analysis and examination on the background of the copper smoldering plant which was driven away by Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, one after another, comprehending the danger and potential environmental calamity it posed.
There is no perceptional difference among the political parties and in a sense are united and interested subjectively in locating the disregarded and rejected hazardous industries and technology in resource rich Tamilnadu. The Ministry of Environment, Government of India was also quick in processing such industrial proposal without providing fair and adequate opportunity to civil society to ventilate their views.
More often than not the much talked about Environmental Impact Assessment arrangement are routine and ritual.The spirit of the content has already been lost.
The people of Tuticorin, who tasted the impact in initial years and were the victims like people of Bhopal- Union Carbide Holocaust of 1984, began their struggle in 1996, two and half decades ago for safety and security.
The fasting in protest of the starting of the Industry and the subsequent movement got swayed by the engineered caste clashes in the Southern Districts of Tamilnadu.The first case against the Industry was filed on 7, November, 1997.
There were number of reported and unreported accidents in the Sterilite Industry.Some of them for example in 1997- 7 cylinders exploded; second sulphur pipe exploded-1 died; third accident- 3 died; fourth accident-6 died;fifth accident-oil tank explosion; sixth accident- toxic gas released in the environment.The Industry clandestinely enhanced its production level from 70000 tonnes to 2 lakhs tonnes.
On 28, September, 2010, the Court Ordered closure of Sterilite. However, the Supreme Court lifted the closure order.The National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench banned the Industry, while the NGT permitted its resumption.In the incessant bouts of litigation the Sterilite emerged successful for obvious reasons.
The primary occupation of agriculture was the first casualty.Pollutant wastes and residues of the Copper Industry in flagrant violation of environmental safeguards and norms were dumped on the land that has grossly affected the fertility of the land and moreover become unusable.
The informations flowing from the Right to Information Act revealed that 2552 patients in and around the villages and urban limits of Tuticorin were admitted and diagnosed as suffering from cancer at Tuticorin Government General Hospital.
Besides, people including children are affected by respiratory disorders and diseases susceptible to the toxic discharge of pollutants in the environment.The facts sheet and other authentic data were submitted to the Supreme Court of India enlightening the grave and dangerous situation as the boiling point of contention in the Case.
The present struggle began as call attention program to the Government to bestow their personal attention in resolving the delayed dilatory tactics adopted by the Administration, gained momentum as they weaned away.
It has continued unabatedly for 99 days and intensified on the 100th day, when people numbering about 20000 took out a mammoth rally/ procession for staging picketing before the District Collectorate, demanding immediate closure of the Industry.
It may be recalled that on March 24, nearly 2 lakh people converged on the same issue peacefully and not a single untoward incident took place.None of the Government Machineries,i.e., SIPCOT, Pollution Control Board, District Administration engaged and discussed or negotiated with the protestors meaningfully and seriously.
They adopted rigid postures and sometimes tried to create a wedge among the various organisations spearheading the struggle, taking their their cue from the tactics they employed in the past, Jallikattu struggle, to break their solidarity and dissipate their unity.
This time the District People Federation against Sterilite Industry and other like-minded Organisations took out the procession.The gathering consisted of women , children, transgender and disabled. They were obstructed by the Police waiting in the wings, near the three miles bridge and resorted to lathicharge, bursting of teargas shells against the people.Their action culminated to unprovoked firing against the unarmed peaceful protestors with intent and strong motive in civil attire by planning and roping in the services of snipers mounted on the Police vehicle at vantage locations, in violation of established procedures and rules.
Thereafter the people responded with throwing of brickbats and stones in self defence, unable to cope up with the Police aggression and brutality.The victims were women and other activists selectively liquidated by the Machinery in an act of revenge. 13 protestors were shot dead and many more were seriously wounded. Some bodies were alleged to have been shifted to Palayankottai Government General Hospital in order to coverup the actual death toll and to safely under play the casualties figure.
After the fateful day, one youth was also shot dead in a cold blood manner.The Police as an after thought used rubber bullets in order to save face like Kashmir.The State Government on the instruction of the Home Ministry had curbed internet services in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin Districts.
In a way, the Government did not listen to the reservations expressed by people from different walks of life and reasonable concerns stated in strong terms by the environmental activists then. Further without deep analysis and examination on the background of the copper smoldering plant which was driven away by Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, one after another, comprehending the danger and potential environmental calamity it posed.
There is no perceptional difference among the political parties and in a sense are united and interested subjectively in locating the disregarded and rejected hazardous industries and technology in resource rich Tamilnadu. The Ministry of Environment, Government of India was also quick in processing such industrial proposal without providing fair and adequate opportunity to civil society to ventilate their views.
More often than not the much talked about Environmental Impact Assessment arrangement are routine and ritual.The spirit of the content has already been lost.
The people of Tuticorin, who tasted the impact in initial years and were the victims like people of Bhopal- Union Carbide Holocaust of 1984, began their struggle in 1996, two and half decades ago for safety and security.
The fasting in protest of the starting of the Industry and the subsequent movement got swayed by the engineered caste clashes in the Southern Districts of Tamilnadu.The first case against the Industry was filed on 7, November, 1997.
There were number of reported and unreported accidents in the Sterilite Industry.Some of them for example in 1997- 7 cylinders exploded; second sulphur pipe exploded-1 died; third accident- 3 died; fourth accident-6 died;fifth accident-oil tank explosion; sixth accident- toxic gas released in the environment.The Industry clandestinely enhanced its production level from 70000 tonnes to 2 lakhs tonnes.
On 28, September, 2010, the Court Ordered closure of Sterilite. However, the Supreme Court lifted the closure order.The National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench banned the Industry, while the NGT permitted its resumption.In the incessant bouts of litigation the Sterilite emerged successful for obvious reasons.
The primary occupation of agriculture was the first casualty.Pollutant wastes and residues of the Copper Industry in flagrant violation of environmental safeguards and norms were dumped on the land that has grossly affected the fertility of the land and moreover become unusable.
The informations flowing from the Right to Information Act revealed that 2552 patients in and around the villages and urban limits of Tuticorin were admitted and diagnosed as suffering from cancer at Tuticorin Government General Hospital.
Besides, people including children are affected by respiratory disorders and diseases susceptible to the toxic discharge of pollutants in the environment.The facts sheet and other authentic data were submitted to the Supreme Court of India enlightening the grave and dangerous situation as the boiling point of contention in the Case.
The present struggle began as call attention program to the Government to bestow their personal attention in resolving the delayed dilatory tactics adopted by the Administration, gained momentum as they weaned away.
It has continued unabatedly for 99 days and intensified on the 100th day, when people numbering about 20000 took out a mammoth rally/ procession for staging picketing before the District Collectorate, demanding immediate closure of the Industry.
It may be recalled that on March 24, nearly 2 lakh people converged on the same issue peacefully and not a single untoward incident took place.None of the Government Machineries,i.e., SIPCOT, Pollution Control Board, District Administration engaged and discussed or negotiated with the protestors meaningfully and seriously.
They adopted rigid postures and sometimes tried to create a wedge among the various organisations spearheading the struggle, taking their their cue from the tactics they employed in the past, Jallikattu struggle, to break their solidarity and dissipate their unity.
This time the District People Federation against Sterilite Industry and other like-minded Organisations took out the procession.The gathering consisted of women , children, transgender and disabled. They were obstructed by the Police waiting in the wings, near the three miles bridge and resorted to lathicharge, bursting of teargas shells against the people.Their action culminated to unprovoked firing against the unarmed peaceful protestors with intent and strong motive in civil attire by planning and roping in the services of snipers mounted on the Police vehicle at vantage locations, in violation of established procedures and rules.
Thereafter the people responded with throwing of brickbats and stones in self defence, unable to cope up with the Police aggression and brutality.The victims were women and other activists selectively liquidated by the Machinery in an act of revenge. 13 protestors were shot dead and many more were seriously wounded. Some bodies were alleged to have been shifted to Palayankottai Government General Hospital in order to coverup the actual death toll and to safely under play the casualties figure.
After the fateful day, one youth was also shot dead in a cold blood manner.The Police as an after thought used rubber bullets in order to save face like Kashmir.The State Government on the instruction of the Home Ministry had curbed internet services in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin Districts.
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