The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Chaos at hearing on Pulichintala project

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Chaos at hearing on Pulichintala project

By Our Staff Reporter

MELLACHERUVU (NALGONDA DT.), NOV.10. Utter chaos prevailed at the venue of the environmental public hearing on the Pulichintala project here on Wednesday following district Collector K.Vijayanand's refusal to allow representatives of the Human Rights Forum (HRF), the Telangana Vidyavantula Vedika (TVV) and the Pulichintala Vyatireka Porata Committee (PVPC) to air their views.

Nine persons, including Kodanda Ram of TVV and P.Subba Rao, district convener of the HRF, were arrested for objecting to being denied an opportunity. Police drove the irate protesters out of the venue as soon as the Collector wound up the public hearing.

Lathicharge alleged

The protesters alleged that police resorted to mild lathicharge when they tried to squat on the road protesting against the Collector's "attitude''.

The Collector, who started the public hearing at 11.22 instead of 10 a.m. for want of public to arrive at the venue, concluded it within two and a half hours, much to the surprise of the public and presspersons. Only 23 persons, most of them were people's representatives and landlords, were allowed to speak. Neither small farmers nor Dalits of the areas under Pulichintala project were given a chance, it was alleged.

"This is highly objectionable on the part of the IAS officer. He simply throttled the voice of the poor and intelligentsia by denying them a chance to air their views on the project,'' Prof. Kodanda Ram said.

Police on guard

Three policemen were kept on guard to prevent Janakiram Reddy of the PVPC to meet journalists at the venue. The movement of those who came here from Hyderabad, Nalgonda and other places to participate in the proceedings was restricted in full public view.

Contrary to the practice followed at the public hearing of the proposed Uranium project at Peddagattu last year, Mr.Vijayanand allegedly allowed persons of his choice to air their views.

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