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People power heats up against Sampur coal power plant
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The controversial site where the Sampur coal power plant is to be set up
Sampur’s residents, who are yet to resettle in the recently released lands, staged a protest this week against the proposed Sampur Coal Power Plant. They said if the project was implemented, it would pose a threat to the surrounding environment.
The People’s Movement Against Coal Power Plant and Green Trincomallee, an organisation consisting of people from neighboring villages, held the protest under the theme of “Do not destroy us for the benefit of India”. The protesters were largely from Koonitheevu, Kaddaiparichchan, Senaiyoor and Soodakudah villages.
Thirunavukkarasu Kobagan, founder member of Green Trincomalee, questioned the manner in which the previous government acquired land for the project.
“In 2006, when the people were displaced due to the war, the land was brought under the control of the Navy which eventually started the next phase of the war in Mavilaru.
Soon after this, the Government issued two gazette notifications saying the land was being acquired by the Government to set up an industrial zone,” he said.
Mr. Kobagan said the people or their elected representatives were not consulted over this project, which could have a serious impact on the environment and the people’s lives.
He claimed that an Indian consultation company came to a conclusion in its feasibility study report that these were abandoned lands and could be taken for coal power plant activities without acknowledging the fact that were paddy fields.
“Now there are no houses or wells in those areas. They were bulldosed. The people who are planning to return to the recently released lands will have to put temporary shelters,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Muttur Magistrate’s Court took up the case filed by Muttur Divisional Secretary against three Sampur residents who refused to vacate the land allocated for coal power plant. The magistrate told them to file objections if any before April 28.
The residents were supported by the Centre for Human Rights Development (CHRD). Its lawyer K.S. Ratnavel said the people who displaced due to the civil war returned to see everything was destroyed including the buildings, the temples and wells and temples.
This was a well-planned move by the former government to prevent resettlement in the area so that it could be given for the coal power plant..